Democratic legislators are taking credit for securing millions in funding for their districts, despite having opposed the funding package that included these allocations at the end of the government shutdown.
On November 13, Congressman Josh Riley from New York voted against the spending package aimed at ending a lengthy government shutdown, alongside 207 other Democrats. They objected because the package lacked health care provisions they wanted. Yet, not long after, Riley issued a press release announcing a victory with $2.6 million aimed at upgrading fire stations and medical facilities in upstate New York. (Related: House Democrats begin taking credit for provisions in pro-Trump bills they voted against)
Interestingly, he didn’t clarify in his release why he opposed the bipartisan policy that would provide federal funds for his constituents.
“Every day in upstate New York, first responders and health care workers step up to serve our neighbors,” he remarked. “This funding is about showing up for them.”
The press release also included comments from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, both of whom seemed to share in this newfound credit for securing local funding, typically referred to as Earmark.
Schumer and Gillibrand were part of the 38 Democrats who voted against the bipartisan measure that contained the Earmark. “I will always fight to bring back federal dollars and give New York communities in the South and across the Catskills the support they deserve,” Schumer stated regarding the funding he later opposed on the Senate floor.
Gillibrand echoed similar sentiments, asserting that she is “working tirelessly” to secure federal funds for New York state, despite her “no” vote on the funding bill.
Various local media outlets in New York reported on the release, lauding the three Democratic figures while overlooking their votes against the funding bill.
“Three rural communities in upstate New York are getting major upgrades thanks to more than $2.6 million in new federal funding secured by Representative Josh Riley, Senator Chuck Schumer, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand,” noted FingerLakes1.com. I wrote.
Spokespeople for Riley, Schumer, and Gillibrand did not respond to inquiries from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), representing House Republicans, criticized Riley for his contradictory stance against the community funding.
“Josh Riley’s hypocrisy and allegiance to the radical left truly knows no bounds,” NRCC spokeswoman Mauren O’Toole stated. “His vote against critical funding for hospitals and fire departments in his district was disgusting, and New York voters will not forget it.”
Riley had previously lost in a competitive House race in 2024, with the then-incumbent Republican Mark Molinaro winning by a narrow margin. The Cook Political Report indicated his re-election campaign was viewed as “lean Democratic.”
Riley, Schumer, and Gillibrand aren’t the only Democrats to have voted against a bill yet claimed funding within it for their districts.
Democratic New York state Rep. Laura Gillen recently celebrated a $938,000 budget enabling her district to acquire a new fire truck but didn’t mention her vote against the bill. Remarks from her presentation were partially lost in the background noise of the live stream.
No immediate comment was provided by a spokesperson for Gillen after a request from the DCNF.
Four New York state legislators are the latest Democrats to take credit for a piece of legislation passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature, after most Democrats had previously resisted several Republican-backed bills.
Back in July, Rep. Seth Magaziner, a Democrat from Rhode Island, released a statement promoting federal funding for his area, without transparently discussing his vote against the spending bill authorizing it.
Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff also stirred controversy in September when he claimed credit for the Veterans Assistance Act, despite the fact that the state Democratic Party had no involvement in its creation.
Additionally, multiple Democrats expressed approval of specific provisions from the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act, while opposing the entire legislation in the House vote.
