Rep. Southerland Joins Growing Republican Opposition to Spending 'Compromise'

A second Florida Republican congressman has announced his opposition to the budget patch approved last Friday night.

U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Tallahassee, said in a statement Tuesday:

I appreciate the efforts of Speaker [John] Boehner to negotiate the best agreement he thought possible with a Senate Democrat leadership that had abdicated its constitutional responsibility to pass a budget at every turn.However, I am unable to support this weeks FY 2011 spending compromise because it falls short of our promise to the American people and does not fully address the crushing burden of deficits and debt that we are leaving our children."

Southerland joined Rep. Allen West, R-Fort Lauderdale, in opposing the spending plan that is scheduled for a vote Thursday.

Only 28 of the 241 House Republicans voted against the six-day bridge bill last week, but the subsequent objections by Southerland and West suggest that this week's vote will be closer.