Why Rep. Hollingsworth voted against debt ceiling, Hurricane Harvey bill

Sept. 11--JEFFERSONVILLE -- U.S. Rep. Trey Hollingsworth, R-Ind., voted against the bill signed by President Trump that will raise the debt ceiling and provide $15 billion in Hurricane Harvey relief.

Hollingsworth voted in favor of a "clean" disaster aid bill for hurricane relief when it first came before the House of Representatives last Wednesday.

"Hoosiers know better than anyone what it means to lend a helping hand and to genuinely be concerned for our neighbors. Just as we did when our own local communities flooded recently, Hoosiers stand ready to help our fellow Americans," Hollingsworth said in a statement following the vote.

In June, Hollingsworth was one of a group of bipartisan Indiana legislators that called on the federal Small Business Administration to help assist in flooding relief in Salem.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. R-Ky., introduced a $15.25 billion aid bill that raises the borrowing limit to avoid a government shutdown through December. The bill, sent back to the House for a vote, combined the Harvey aid package with a debt ceiling deal struck between Trump and Congressional Democrats.

Hollingsworth explained his vote against the package in a series of Tweets on Friday, saying linking hurricane relief with the debt ceiling increase is "immoral" and "bad legislative tricks."

"I voted for bipartisan hurricane relief and stood proud lending a hand to fellow Americans," Hollingsworth said in a statement Monday. "Hoosiers also demanded last November that we stop the overspending and quit bankrupting America's future. While disappointed in career politicians playing politics with American lives, I was proud to amplify Hoosier voices that demanded their government return to fiscal responsibility."

Hollingsworth was one of 90 legislators to vote against the bill, including four Texas Republicans.

Hopeful Ninth Congressional District candidate Dan Canon took a shot against Hollingsworth, whom he could be facing in a general election for the seat next fall.

Canon called the Congressman's vote "truly appalling," linking it to Hollingsworth's vote to repeal and replacement the Affordable Care Act as evidence that "he just does not care about anyone but the wealthy."

___

(c)2017 The Evening News and The Tribune (Jeffersonville, Ind.)

Visit The Evening News and The Tribune (Jeffersonville, Ind.) at newsandtribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.