Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., defended her vote against a 2022 bill that expanded healthcare benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, saying she didn't want to spend "$600 billion forever," according to multiple reports.
Boebert made the comments in a debate with Democrat challenger Trisha Calvarese on Tuesday regarding the "Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act," or Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act. The bill passed both the House and Senate in July 2022 and was signed into law by President Joe Biden. Boebert was among 88 House Republicans to vote against it.
Boebert defended the vote against the bill, saying she wasn't in favor of "something that we only had 24 hours to read that's over 2,000 pages long."
"I'm not spending $600 billion forever because we couldn't get a couple pieces of language right in legislation. Just because a bill is on the floor does not make it the only option," she said, adding that she has had "six amendments that have brought funding to our veterans."
Boebert and some fellow Republicans took issue with the fact that the bill came with $400 billion in mandatory spending not subject to annual appropriations review, The Hill reported. The Senate added three cost control amendments to the bill, greasing the skids for passage, according to the report.
Boebert is seeking her third term in office, first in Colorado's 4th Congressional District. She won a contested Republican primary in June with 43.7% of the vote.
Mark Swanson ✉
Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor, has nearly three decades of experience covering news, culture and politics.
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