WASHINGTON, DC - Today U.S. Representative George Latimer (NY-16) voted against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that contained several partisan poison pill amendments. Rep. Latimer introduced two amendments to limit the use of the military in New York or around an election, but the Republican Majority did not allow them to receive a vote.

"I am frustrated that the Republican Majority turned a typically bipartisan process into a partisan exercise by not allowing certain Democratic amendments like my own that would have protected our state," said Rep. Latimer. "There are parts of this bill that I do support, including a pay increase for servicemembers. But poison pill amendments ultimately included in the bill made it impossible to support the final version."

Rep. Latimer was supportive of many parts of the original bill, but floor amendments designed to advance ideological policies such as anti-environmental policies made the final bill as amended unacceptable.

The first amendment Rep. Latimer introduced would prevent funding from the NDAA to be used to send troops to New York State unless the Governor requested assistance. Right now the federal government is deploying National Guard troops and Marines to cities even though Governors have said they do not need or want assistance.

The second amendment would prevent the President from federalizing the military as a national police force if doing so would likely disrupt or influence an election.

Rep. Latimer continued, "The military should be defending us abroad and assisting our allies, not arresting people on the streets of our country. This is a serious infringement on states' rights and a misuse of our military, and our tax dollars should not be spent towards it."

The bill now goes to the Senate where it is unlikely to pass in its current form.