Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., also weighed in on the debate Tuesday in an appearance on FNC:
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell echoed Boehner’s sentiments Tuesday during a press conference in which he remarked the battle over the pork-laden bill is “eerily similar” to the divisive battle over spending last year:
RedState is in the process of dissecting the newly released omnibus bill; here’s a sampling of some egregious spending projects found so far:
$247,000 – Virus free grapes in Washington StateClick here to view the full 1,924-page bill.
$413,000 – Peanut research in Alabama
$125,000 – Fishery equipment for the Guam Fisherman’s Cooperative Association
$349,000 – Swine waste management in North Carolina
$277,000 – Potato pest management in Wisconsin
$246,000 – Bovine tuberculosis treatment in Michigan and Minnesota
$522,000 – Cranberry and blueberry disease and breeding in New Jersey
$500,000 – Oyster safety in Florida
$400,000 – Solar parking canopies and plug-in electric stations in Kansas
$165,000 – Maple syrup research in Vermont
Congress is currently tackling a $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill, significantly weighed down with 20,000 earmark requests. But Republicans are pushing back Tuesday evening as soon-to-be Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, issued an ultimatum for President Barack Obama.
ReplyDelete“If President Obama is truly serious about ending earmarks, he should oppose Senate Democrats’ pork-laden omnibus spending bill and announce he will veto it if necessary,” Boehner challenged in a statement. “This bill represents exactly what the American people have rejected: more spending, more earmarks, and more big government. Republicans strongly oppose this last-ditch spending spree, a smack in the face to taxpayers at a time when we’re borrowing 40 cents of every dollar we spend. Senate Democrats even go so far as to plow more than $1 billion into implementing ObamaCare, despite a growing national revolt against this job-killing health care law.”
Additionally, Boehner stressed that the need to stop Washington’s “job-killing spending binge“ will be a ”top priority” for the new Republican majority in the House of Representatives when lawmakers return for the start of the 112th Congress in January. “We have already banned earmarks and made a pledge to America to end the practice of omnibus bills like this disgrace and cut spending to pre-‘stimulus,’ pre-bailout levels. Instead of making reckless spending decisions in the waning days of the lame-duck session, Senate Democrats should stand down so we can get to work on cleaning up Washington’s fiscal mess.”
In one of their last acts before Congress adjourns for the year, Senate Democrats are pushing a 1,924-page spending bill that includes massive earmark spending. If passed, the measure would be enacted into law without debate in the full senate.
ReplyDeleteSenate Appropriations Committee chair Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, says the bill must pass. “The twelve bills included in this package fulfill the Congress’ most basic responsibility, to exercise the power of the purse,” he said in a statement. “This measure reflects a year’s worth of work by members of both parties. Together, we have closely scrutinized the president’s budget request, held hundreds of hearings, thousands of meetings, and asked literally tens of thousands of questions to each and every federal department and agency seeking justification for how taxpayer dollars are being spent.”
Meanwhile, Republicans poring over the bill are calling it a “total mess.”
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, criticized the Democratic majority for failing to pass budget resolutions, and “today we learn Senate Democrats now want to sandwich them together, totaling almost 2,000 pages, and jam them through in the waning moments of this lame duck session before anyone can read them. This political end-around reveals just how quickly my colleagues across the aisle have already forgotten the voters’ message in November,” Cornyn responded.
Thanks for adding your comments Anon.
ReplyDeleteClass warfare Divide and conquer Alinsky 101!
ReplyDeleteNone from this regime will be remembered has Lincoln Washington Jefferson. They will of coarse be remembered for their actions IDEAOLOGY over Citizens and Nation. I gotta live long enough to see Nobamas Library. Wonder if the toilet will FLUSH!
It isn't very safe to be an Oyster nowdays, ever since the rich got their tax cuts. They need more safety and protection from evil people who spend all their lives exhaling greenhouse gasses. The only thing that will really make oysters safe is genetically engineered peanuts that unconditionally negotiate with terrorists.
ReplyDeleteI am now a firm, unquestionable believer that the extreme liberal left is purposely trying to collapse our economy.
ReplyDeleteThats IS an act of treason!
That is funny ACT. Mark I'm starting to think the same thing. It's either they are doing it on purpose or they are the dumbest leaders ever. I don't think they are dumb.
ReplyDelete