Trump should have vetoed this bullshit in its entirely. The Dems are giddy with joy.
The only good things in the bill: reversal of military spending cuts and no bailout of the socialist disaster ObamaCare. Other than that, it didn’t get rid of DACA, it’s full of the usual waste of taxpayer money, and it didn’t ensure complete funding for the border wall. Grassroots Americans are none too happy.
From Breitbart
Lawmakers released the $1.3 trillion, 2,232-page omnibus spending bill on Wednesday night, which Congress has to pass by midnight Friday to avert a government shutdown.
……The budget shocked conservatives, including Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), as it flies past the spending limits set by the Budget Control Act of 2011.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) struck a deal in February to increase domestic and military spending by nearly $300 billion over the next two years. The bill includes an additional $90 billion in disaster aid for states and localities affected by last year’s hurricanes and $140 billion for emergency military funds.
Jason Pye, vice president of legislative affairs for FreedomWorks, said, “Republicans don’t know how to stop spending money.”
Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL), a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, told Breitbart News in an exclusive interview that our national debt has skyrocketed in recent years to untenable levels.
“This year, we’re looking at a deficit of $750 to $1 trillion. Next year, the estimate is $1 trillion or more. I have to wonder if there is any way that we can avoid a national insolvency or bankruptcy.”
House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-NC) lamented in an interview with Breitbart News Daily on Tuesday that the “Senate Democrats seem to be calling most of the shots.”
A report on Monday suggested that the omnibus spending bill will not include a bailout of Obamacare.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), another member of the House Freedom Caucus, suggested that a number of liberal policies will be included in the omnibus, without any substantial border wall funding.
……The omnibus spending bill includes funding for the New York Gateway Bridge project that will benefit Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Rep. Ted Budd slammed the Gateway bridge project in an exclusive interview with Breitbart News.
Read the bill here.
And in what can only be described as more douchebaggery, Congress helped itself to more taxpayer funded bonuses:
The Senate increased its total salaries of officers and employees by $12.6 million in the 2,232-page bill that lawmakers had fewer than 48 hours to read and vote on. The bill avoids a government shutdown that would take place at midnight on Friday.
Aside from giving their own institutions a bonus, the omnibus also gives away millions to prevent “elderly falls,” promote breastfeeding, and fight “excessive alcohol use.”
The legislation increases the Senate budget to $919.9 million, up $48.8 million from fiscal year 2017, according to the congressional summary of the bill.
“The increase provides funding necessary for critical modernization and upgrades of the Senate financial management system and investments in IT security,” the summary states.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives increased its budget to $1.2 billion, which is $10.9 million above 2017 levels.
Salaries of staffers in the Senate are also set for an increase. Division I of the legislation breaks down the total salaries of officers and employees, which are being raised from $182 million in 2017 to $194.8 million in the final bill, an increase of $12.58 million.
The Senate also increased its expense account, as expense allowances are going from $177,000 to $192,000, an increase of $15,000.
The House, however, kept its budget for salaries the same at $22.3 million and lowered expenses by $4.4 million.
Committee offices got an increase of $22.9 million in salaries, from $181.5 million in 2017 to $204.4 million in the final bill.
Any Republican president worth their salt would tell Congress that they refuse to sign any omnibus or budget bill until it’s gone through with a fine tooth comb and modified with a line-item veto. Government shutdowns have been used as blackmail long enough. Tell Congress that the signature will be rendered as soon as bill is scrutinized, and if they want it done sooner, stop sending 3000 page legislation.
Every year, the Citizens Against Government Waste organization publishes the annual “Congressional Pig Book” which reports on all the pork-laden bills rammed through Congress. 2018 will be a banner year.
Related articles:
https://www.redstate.com/tladuke/2018/03/24/stop-whining-trump-signing-omnibus-bill/
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article206183559.html
Bear in mind, this is a spending bill — not a budget. President Trump may spend all of it, none of it, or any amount in between wherever he so decides.
Side note: now that the Congress – specifically the Senate – is shut down for two weeks, one wonders how many recess appointments he may make. Nearly 100 of his nominations are being stonewalled in the Senate; now is his chance to break the log jam.
Pingback: Foxhole | The Swamp Spending $1.3 Trillion Omnibus Bill | Brittius