Ted Yoho: Bill prevents another shutdown

When I first ran for Congress, I promised the people who elected me that I would represent them, and that I would not vote on what was politically popular, but I would vote on principle. Ever since that day, I have committed myself to solving the problems facing America head on instead of kicking the can down the road.

Last week, I voted to fund the government and keep discretionary spending at its lowest level since 2007. This funding bill, while not perfect, provides funding for 11 of the 12 regular appropriations bills through fiscal year 2015 and provides roughly $1.013 trillion in discretionary spending; this is below the Murray/Ryan Budget of $1.015 trillion, passed in October 2013. This bill puts the country on a path to save taxpayers $2.1 trillion over the next 10 years and it balances the budget.

Had I voted for a Continuing Resolution (CR), it would have negated 60 percent of the work Congress had accomplished in the last year through the appropriations process. Voting for a CR is nothing more than kicking the can down the road and it is no way to govern.

With the passage of this funding bill, our troops have the assurance that they will receive their paychecks while in harm's way, veterans' services can continue to improve, and our seniors will have security knowing their checks won't stop. This bill also prevents the threat of another government shutdown, which ensures economic stability for our small businesses and allows them to plan for expansion and provide for job creation.

More importantly, this legislation contains no new funding for Obamacare. For President Obama to have to sign that provision into law is a huge win and the beginning to the dismantling of Obamacare. In addition, this bill does not fund the Race to the Top fund, which coerces cash-strapped states into adopting questionable Common Core federal standards.

By funding the government through Sept. 30, we have cleared the way for important legislative work to be done that concentrates our efforts on common-sense reforms, rather than fighting over short-term CR spending. The power of the purse is one of the most effective tools Congress has to rein in government waste and overreach. This bill cuts over $300 million from the IRS and reduces the EPA's spending to 1989 levels, thereby shrinking both agencies. This bill also prevents the EPA from overregulating “navigable waters,” which will protect our farmers and business owners.

A colossal spending bill like this is overwhelming to understand. However, when you break it down, it is actually made of the multiple bills the House appropriations committees approved during the past 18 months. Last week's vote made sure all the hard work done in the House wasn't done in vain. The House passed 11 of the 12 appropriations bills out of their respective subcommittees and sent seven of them to the Senate for a vote. Harry Reid did not act on those appropriations bills because they were conservative and went against Obama's policies.

It is no secret there are many of President Obama's policies I do not agree with. One in particular was the president's recent executive amnesty order. As soon as he announced what he was going to do, I introduced — and the House later passed — legislation to stop it (HR 5759 Preventing Executive Overreach On Immigration of 2014). This bill will be reintroduced in the next Congress, along with language that strips all funding from any government agency that processes any work visas or permits for people in this country illegally. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has introduced the companion bill in the Senate. This will strengthen our message to the White House going into 2015.

My goal is to block Obama's executive amnesty and fix our broken immigration system. Fixing the broken immigration system begins with border security and enforcement of our current laws. The American people handed Republicans the torch of leadership. Being a leader means looking at the big picture and making tough decisions.

With a new Republican Senate being sworn in the first week of January, I look forward to working with them to place our country back on track fiscally, stopping this president's overreach, preserving our Constitution, and restoring the greatness of America.

U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho is a Gainesville Republican representing part of Alachua County and 12 other counties.