Dusty Johnson Votes Against Reopening the USDA
Yesterday, unlike a bipartisan majority of his colleagues, Rep. Dusty Johnson voted against H.R. 265, which would provide funding for the rest of the year for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Rep. Johnson has also voted against legislation fully funding the federal government, and legislation funding the Department of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development – pieces of legislation which were also backed by a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives. The South Dakota Democratic Party released the following statement from Executive Director Sam Parkinson in response:
“The USDA is responsible for administering many programs that South Dakota farmers and producers and their communities rely on for their economic well-being. By voting against reopening the USDA, and the rest of the federal government, Rep. Johnson voted to take money out of the pockets of hardworking South Dakota families and to hurt South Dakota communities. When will Rep. Johnson, Sen. Rounds and Sen. Thune finally stand up to the president and join with the Democrats – and many Republicans – in Congress who want to reopen the government? Once again, the people that South Dakotans sent to Washington to represent them are putting loyalty to party and president above their duty to represent us.”