Reed Votes Against Senate-backed Compromise, Criticized by Opponent

Rep. Tom Reed (R-Corning)

Chautauqua County’s representative in Congress was one of the 144 House of Representative members who voted on Wednesday against the compromise that originated in the U.S. Senate and which has reopened the federal government.

In a statement following the vote, Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning) said that residents in the 23rd district did not send him to Washington to support the status quo of government by crisis:

“The 23^rd district of New York did not send me to Washington to support the status quo of government by crisis. This country needs a long-term solution that stops the endless cycle of crises and kicking the can down the road. Enough is enough. We cannot keep borrowing to cover uncontrolled spending without jeopardizing our children and grandchildren’s future. No one wants a default but that is exactly what will happen sooner or later if we do not deal with this problem. I will work tirelessly in support of a long-term solution before the next crisis dates looming just three months away. Our country deserves real solutions and I offer my ‘Honest Proposal.'”- Tom Reed.

Meanwhile, Congressman Reed’s likely opponent in the 2014 general election is speaking out against his vote on Wednesday.

Martha Robertson

Tompkins County Democrat and House District 23 Candidate Martha Robertson says that if Congressman Reed had his way, the full faith and credit of the United States would be shattered today. Robertson also said that Reed’s vote against the compromise shows that there is no more pretending to be a “moderate” and that he is willing to toe the Tea Party line at all costs, even when the well-being of Veterans, senior citizens, and the entire economy is at risk.

According to the Robertson campaign, since the showdown in Congress began, Reed has voted four times to shut down the government and 17 times to refuse to reopen it.

Reed has also introduced several bills that would re-open the federal government during the shutdown, but all of them hinged on eliminating or delaying funding to the Affordable Care Act, or changing the rules for the often criticized healthcare plan. None of the bills he introduced made it to the full house floor for a vote.