Corker blasts ‘fiscally irresponsible’ Trump administration

WASHINGTON – Sen. Bob Corker took President Donald Trump’s administration and some of his congressional colleagues to task on Monday over what he called “irresponsible” spending decisions.

“This administration, assisted by big spending Republicans and Democrats in Congress, is on track to be one of the most fiscally irresponsible administrations in history,” the Tennessee Republican wrote in a message on Twitter. “We must change course.”

Corker’s tweet included a link to an article in Congressional Quarterly that said some Republicans have buyer’s remorse over the February spending deal with Democrats that paved the way for a 2,200-page, $1.3 trillion omnibus appropriations bill last month.

The article noted that as midterm elections approach, House Republicans and the White House are looking to show signs of fiscal restraint in the coming weeks and months.

The House is expected to consider a balanced budget amendment sometime this week.

Corker voted against the spending bill and, in a blistering floor speech just before the vote, called it one of the most “grotesque” pieces of legislation he can remember during his two terms in the Senate.

He said he did not support the measure because it would set the stage for $2 trillion in deficits over the next 10 years and does not offset spending increases with cuts.

When Trump threatened to veto the bill, Corker took to Twitter and urged him to “please” do so.

Trump eventually signed the bill into law on March 23.

Corker and Trump spent several weeks late last year in a nasty, public spat but have since appeared to patch up their differences.