Latimer Votes No on Government Funding Bill and Speaks Out on Tariffs and Cuts to Federal Work Force

Newly elected Congressman George Latimer has been speaking out and voting in defense of his constituents in NY District 16.

Here are his comments:

Government Funding Bill

"It is clear that everyday residents are outraged with the cut and destroy method of management by the Trump Administration. This strategy is an outrage. Without providing guardrails or reasserting Constitutional authority about how to spend money that Congress appropriates, this systematic dismantling will continue.

The government funding bill today deserved a 'no' vote. It does not include any of these critical guardrails and submits to the will of Trump and Elon Musk as they to continue to tear down our government. We offered an alternative bill which would keep the government open without implementing disastrous policies - the Republican majority wouldn't even consider it.

The bill has significant cuts to housing programs for seniors and domestic violence survivors, and cuts funding for veterans' healthcare. My priority is to make life less expensive for working families. This funding bill does not achieve that goal. It does the exact opposite."

Tariffs

On March 10, 2025, U.S. Representative George Latimer (released the following statement after the government of Ontario, Canada, applied a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to New York, Minnesota and Michigan:

“Electricity rates, which are already high, are about to go up. As we predicted a month ago, President Trump’s ill-advised and thoughtless trade war with our ally Canada is needlessly adding to increasing prices already felt by New York ratepayers. The stock market has dropped again today after the President refused to rule out a recession. He is gambling with our economy and the wallets of working Americans.

Last week President Trump announced tariffs on Canada and Mexico after rescinding them in February. The 25% surcharge on electricity exports is expected to affect electricity sales to 1.5 million homes across New York, Michigan and Minnesota."

Firing of Federal employees

Watch this video with Latimer’s address on the house floor on cuts to the federal work force which he calls “heartless and cruel.”