WASHINGTON, D.C.-Senator John Thune today applauded the Senate Appropriations Committee's decision to provide no funding for the implementation of a new entitlement program called the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act, which is included in the president's health care law.

"I commend the Senate Appropriations Committee on their bipartisan decision to provide zero funding for the CLASS Act," said Thune. "Last night, Senate Democrats joined with Republicans in recognizing the CLASS Act would be yet another government program that we cannot afford.

"While I do not agree with many of the funding provisions included in the Labor-HHS appropriations bill, the rejection of the CLASS Act is a victory for the American taxpayer. The funding decision is a good first step, but it does not go far enough and Congress should repeal the CLASS Act permanently."

Earlier this month, Thune lead a bicameral working group in releasing a report revealing the Obama Administration ignored repeated warnings about the financial solvency of the massive new entitlement and suppressed information on the viability of the program in the effort to achieve a political victory with the passage of the health care law. Additionally, Thune has led the effort in the Senate to repeal the CLASS Act and has introduced legislation to achieve that goal.

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