Partisan Poison Pills Don’t Belong in December Appropriations Bills

Contact: David Rosen, drosen@citizen.org, (202) 588-7742

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A diverse array of groups in the Clean Budget Coalition sent a letter today urging members of Congress to remove all of the partisan, poison pill policy riders from the December appropriations bills. While most of the government is funded for fiscal year 2019, a package of four appropriations bills has been stuck in conference committee negotiations since September, and Congress must act by Dec. 7 to avoid a partial government shutdown.

“No appropriations titles, package of bills, or continuing resolution (should that be deemed the appropriate path to continue funding the government) should move forward containing partisan poison pill policy riders,” the letter reads. “Time and time again, members of Congress attempt to quietly slip in corporate special interest wish list items that couldn’t pass as standalone legislation into must-pass funding packages as poison pill riders, and our champions have stood firm in opposition. We ask that you take that stance as Congress processes the remaining FY19 appropriations bills.”

###