WASHINGTON, D.C.–It was a no vote from Mississippi’s senators Roger Wicker and Thad Cochran Wednesday on a two-year budget deal that will keep the federal government from shutting down again in January.
Despite the vote from the Mississippi delegation, the deal passed 64-36.
“I cannot support a budget that slashes promised retirement benefits to our military men and women,” said Wicker, who was joined by Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and others who supported the same position at a press conference after the vote . “This onerous provision is unfair, and budget cuts should never be at the expense of promises made to those who sacrifice the most for our country.
“I have met with military retirees, active-duty military personnel, military spouses, and others. All have expressed their shock and outrage that the government would choose to break its promise to those serving in uniform,” Wicker added. “I am more than willing to work with all members of Congress to pass a sensible budget deal, but I will not support burdening service members and taking away retirement benefits that they have more than earned.”
Cochran said earlier that his decision was also based on the end of the sequester, which was in the bill. The sequester was designed to use cuts to the military to hold lawmakers accountable for not coming up with a solid budget plan.
