Hartzler: Liberals sink effort to force Obama to demand repayment from U.N.

Fourth District Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler is upset because "liberals" stopped a bill which would have forced President Obama to demand the U.N. pay the United States $179 million. From the news release:

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-4) has voted to pass a bill to require the Obama Administration to demand the United Nations pay back $179 million in U.S. over-payments that are supposed to offset taxes paid by U.S. citizens working at the U.N. Instead of returning the over-payment, the U.N. now wants to use the extra American taxpayer money to spiff up its New York City headquarters.


In a procedural move, House liberals have taken the side of the U.N. and President Obama, sinking a bill to insist on repayment of U.S. taxpayer funds. Supporters outnumbered opponents 259-169 but were not able to pick up the two-thirds’ backing needed for passage of the measure.

Hartzler said: “At a time of ruinous deficits, many of us are appalled at how much the U.S. already pours into the United Nations. It is outrageous that we are sending tens of millions of added taxpayer dollars to the U.N. for its building fund. What is worse, the Obama Administration is tongue-tied and will not demand the return of this $179 million.

“This proposal was approved online by Americans as part of the YouCut initiative, to enlist patriotic citizens in finding ways to cut the federal budget. The bill I support would force the Obama Administration to demand any overpayments be returned each year and also to withhold $179 million from the U.N. until the U.S. has been reimbursed for overpayment.”

The U.S. funds more than 20 percent of the U.N.’s annual budget, amounting to more than $6 billion in 2009.