The U.S. House has passed a $30 billion energy and water bill that has some significant cuts to renewable energy programs. Led by Republicans, the measure passed mostly along party lines. Missouri GOP Rep. Vicky Hartzler, who sits on two key committees tied to the bill, Agriculture and Budget, acknowledged in an interview with Cindy that many of her rural constituents want to see green energy sources preserved, while at the same time, making needed cuts to the budget.

“It keeps a priority and balance in that we do have a focus on energy programs, but it does reduce some of the spending for some of the renewable green programs and some of the research. But they’re not eliminated,” Hartzler said.

She pointed to the electric vehicle loan program as one of the areas that needed to be eliminated. “That’s something that perhaps a private bank would like to do, but I don’t think it’s right to take your tax dollars to promote electric cars.”

Hartzler said the bill promotes an “all-of-the-above” energy approach, so there’s an overall effort to reduce reliance on foreign oil and cut gas prices. She also sees the energy side of the bill as being important to national security … another important issue for her as she sits on the House Armed Services Committee. She added this is part of an overall process that looks to balance the budget within 10 years without raising taxes.

“So you’re going to see all these appropriation bills … spending less overall than last year. That means we have to be smarter and wiser in how we spend our dollars, looking at every government program,” she said, calling it a good process that was long overdue.

The House’s version of the bill could face quite an uphill battle, lower than the Senate’s version by $4 billion and being threatened with a presidential veto.

Listen to Cindy’s interview with Rep. Hartzler here: Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO)