U.S. Rep. Hill says defense spending key to his budget vote

Second District Congressman French Hill was one of two Arkansas representatives to support the $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill approved before Congress left for the holidays.

Hill, R-Little Rock, appeared on Talk Business & Politics with Roby Brock on Sunday to defend and explain his vote.

“That trillion is just a third of what we spend in the federal government. We spend over $3 trillion,” Hill said in reference to additional mandatory spending programs such as Social Security and Medicare. The $1.1 trillion in discretionary spending was roughly split 50-50 between defense and non-defense items.

“First of all, I like the defense structure in it and the Homeland security structure and the visa waiver bill that was included,” Hill said of his vote.

The federal legislation places new restrictions on travelers to the U.S. who have visited areas of the globe with significant terrorist threats. It also:

• Repeals COOL labeling
• Provides money for the Little Rock Air Force Base and Pine Bluff Arsenal
• Provides a larger budget for the Delta Regional Authority
• Extends certain tax benefits

Hill said – like others who criticized the last minute omnibus process – that the last-minute scrambling to approve the budget deal was less than desirable; however, he secured a commitment from House Speaker Paul Ryan that there would be a more streamlined process of going through a normal appropriations routine next year.

Watch more of Hill’s comments as well as his take on the Feds raising interest rates and the latest GDP numbers in the video below.