Cartwright objects to GOP-led bill

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright didn’t have any qualms when he joined 150 other members of Congress Wednesday in voting against a continuing resolution that aims to fund the federal government through September and continue the sequestration-mandated budget cuts.

The Democrat from Moosic said the GOP-backed bill, approved by a 267-151 mostly party line vote, now heads to the Democratic-controlled Senate where it’s still murky as to whether it’s likely to garner enough votes to be sent to President Obama’s desk.

“This is another example of wasting time instead of coming to the table and getting something sensible through,” Cartwright said Wednesday.

He called it an affront to the hundreds of thousands of Americans impacted by the sequestration and said he was hopeful language would be added that would either end the sequestration or at least end parts of it — including the cuts made to the military budget. That budget helps fund civilian jobs at the region’s largest employer, the Tobyhanna Army Depot.

“I thought it would be a bill to relieve Tobyhanna of furlough notices but it’s not. It didn’t do a thing to address the 1,323 Luzerne County residents that work there that will see a salary decrease … I was so disgusted with the outcome, of course I voted no on this,” Cartwright said.

The state’s entire GOP delegation voted yes, while the state’s Democratic members voted no.