Schneider Joins Bipartisan Budget Effort

Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield) was part of a bipartisan effort today to fund the federal government through Sept. 30 eliminating the piecemeal approach Congress has taken over the last three years.

In passing a $1.012 trillion appropriations bill the House of Representatives filled in the details of the bipartisan budget agreement reached in December between Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI).

Though the budget passed in December created a spending plan to last through Sept., 2015, this measure will actually fund the government through September eliminating the frequent series of continuing resolutions which brought Washington to a halt in October.

“This bipartisan bill is an example of how Washington should work,” Schneider said in a statement. “No one got everything they wanted, but both sides found common ground in order to provide certainty to our businesses and communities."

Passing 369-67, Schneider joined 192 other Democrats and 166 Republicans voting for the measure while 64 Republicans and three Democrats opposed the bill. The Senate voted 86-14 for the legislation Tuesday.

Schneider was pleased with the bipartisan effort eliminating the need for the stop gap measures of the past three years. “For too long, Congress’s failure to come together and agree on a budget hampered our economic growth and caused unnecessary uncertainty,” he said.

The campaign of former Rep. Robert Dold (R-Kenilworth) did not respond to two inquires from Patch to comment on the legislation. Dold (R-Kenilworth), who was elected in 2010 and lost to Schneider two years later, is trying to win the seat back in November.