Here’s How Middle Tennessee Congressmen Voted On Last-Minute Spending Bill

Rep. Diane Black (R-Gallatin) says she preferred not to let the perfect be the enemy of the good, and voted for a $1.1 trillion spending bill to fund the government for the next two years. Credit: TN Photo Services

Updated 10:00 am with quote from Rep. Jim Cooper.

Congresswoman Diane Black was the Nashville area’s only representative to vote for the $1.1 trillion spending bill that passed the House Thursday night.

The Gallatin Republican released a statement arguing that “no government funding measure that needs to be negotiated with Senate Democrats and signed by President Obama will ever be perfect.” She said she preferred to avoid a repeat of the 2013 government shutdown and not let “the perfect be the enemy of the good.”

Fellow Republican Marsha Blackburn of Brentwood said she voted no because the spending package fails to defund the President’s executive actions on immigration, which she calls “lawless amnesty.” Congressman Scott DesJarlais of South Pittsburgh echoed that argument, adding that there’s “no conceivable way any member of Congress” had time to properly review the 1,600 page bill.

Nashville Democrat Jim Cooper voted no, releasing this statement*: “Congress had all year to do its job. But it again waited until the final hours and made shady backroom deals. This bill is no way to govern.”

*An early version of this post incorrectly quoted Cooper from a release made during the 2013’s budget showdown.