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WASHINGTON – Tonight, Congressman Robert Pittenger took action to block President Obama’s bullying of North Carolina.

The Obama Administration has made multiple threats to withhold federal funding from North Carolina as punishment for the state’s new anti-discrimination law, despite that law’s full compliance with federal law, and despite the fact that federal lawsuits remain unresolved.

Congressman Pittenger’s appropriations amendment blocks President Obama’s ability to make those threats.
“The President and his emissaries have stated . . . that funds should not be dispensed to North Carolina until North Carolina is coerced into complying with the legal beliefs of the President, and his political views.

“We believe this is an egregious abuse of executive power and that the State of North Carolina should not be required to comply to the President’s wishes. The President is not a monarch, he is not a dictator, he does not issue fiats, we are a Constitutional divided government.

“This amendment I’m offering today stops the President from bullying states. Stops the President from bullying North Carolina.”

Congressman Pittenger’s limitation amendment to the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 5055) states that “none of the funds made available by this Act may be used to revoke funding previously awarded to or within the State of North Carolina,” and would apply to funding through the Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Congressman Pittenger’s amendment, which was supported on the floor by Chairman Mike Simpson of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee and Congressman Mark Walker (NC-06), passed by voice vote. Democrats requested a recorded roll call vote, which will take place Wednesday evening.

“Energy and Water” is one of 14 annual appropriations bills which fund the federal government. Congressman Pittenger plans to introduce similar limitation amendments to other upcoming appropriations bills.