WASHINGTON -- The U.S. House on Tuesday easily cleared Rep. Tom Graves' $3.3 billion spending bill covering the legislative branch.
Graves, the conservative Republican from Ranger, worked with Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a liberal who is most often seen attacking top Republicans on TV. Though she ended up voting against the bill, Wasserman Schultz even had kind words for Graves on the floor ahead of the easy 357-67 vote.
It was Graves' first bill as an appropriations "cardinal," as subcommittee chairs are known. Though it oversees the smallest and most overlooked of the 12 annual spending bills, the post is emblematic of a quick rise for the 45-year-old Graves, who was first elected in 2010.
Said Wasserman Schultz:
"I want to congratulate Chairman Graves on his maiden voyage as the chair of the appopriations subcommittee on the legislative branch. I know he was diligent and focused and we found agreement where we could. And where we could not agree, I found him able to discuss it in a congenial and thoughtful manner."
Graves, who returned the praise, boasted of holding the line on overall legislative branch spending -- increasing funding for the Capitol Police while cutting funding for the architect of the Capitol. Congressional pay and office allowances remain frozen.
Wasserman Shultz complained about construction projects in the Capitol: "Cutting upgrades to our elevators will not get us out of debt." And she urged Republicans to work with President Barack Obama to undo sequestration caps on spending.
Said Graves on the floor:
"In all, this represents a 14 percent reduction in funding for the House of Representatives since Republicans have gained control of Congress in January of 2011. ... This is a product that we can be proud of."
The Senate has yet to act on its version of the bill.
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