GOP pushes $373 billion spending bill through House

[drfemoe]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-12-08-spending_x.htm

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House approved a $373 billion spending package Monday detailing how nearly every domestic agency will spend its money this year and delivering wins to President Bush on overtime pay, media ownership and other fights.

More than two months after the government's budget year began, Republican leaders pushed the sweeping measure through by 242-176. Its fate remained uncertain in the Senate, where Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., was leaning toward delaying a vote until late January because of opposition and a reluctance by senators, now on recess, to return to the Capitol.
..snip..
Though written largely by the GOP, the bill was approved by 58 Democrats along with the 184 Republicans who voted for it. Voting no were 137 Democrats, 38 Republicans and 1 independent.

The bill all but groans with earmarks, or money for museums, industrial parks and other projects for home districts of lawmakers of both parties. Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., top Democrat on the Appropriations panel, said there were more than 7,000 of them worth more than $7.5 billion, a long and ever-expanding tradition that prompted some conservative Republicans to oppose the bill.

"We seem to have no shame," said conservative Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.

...con't...

observation .. united democrats could have defeated the bill.

[JaySherman]

1. *Cough cough!* PORK! *Cough!*

Would you like some baked beans with that? :eyes:

[theorist]

2. Missile Defense Shield?

I'm too lazy to read the story. I somehow doubt it would be in there anyway.

[Kremer]

3. WTF!

When was this bill debated, proposed, written, etc? Are they not even debating bills anymore? Why is it you hear nothing about the bill, what's in it, etc and then all of the sudden you see a headline that says house passes $373billion bill. What bill? I don't remember seeing any debate. I heard that some bills are now being crafted in committee and Dems are not allowed in those committee's. This is democracy? I think it may have been this bill where I beleive some democrats were being asked to vote on the bill before they had even seen or read what's in it!!! WTF!!!!!!! How can you vote on a bill you've never seen before? I'm so tired of this shit!!! May as well get rid of congress. It's become a fucken shame & sham and a place to pass whatever you want so you can get some goodies. May as well jump in on the looting while everyone else is!

[drfemoe]

4. okay

It has been debated and delayed and debated and delayed .. that's why they added all the pork to win democratic votes. But your assessment of congress is right on.

more snips...

...These include provisions that let companies deny overtime to more white-collar workers, allow networks to own more television stations, aided Bush's plan to let private companies do more federal work and required the FBI to destroy gun purchase applications after a day.
...
Combined with six regular spending bills that have already become law, plus the $87.5 billion package for Iraq and Afghanistan approved last month, the measure would bring total spending that Congress controls for this year to $875 billion. That is a 3% increase over last year, the smallest increase in years.

"If they were in charge, they'd be spending much more," House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said of Democrats.
...
Democrats said they would object to an effort by Frist, expected Tuesday, to push the legislation through the Senate by voice vote. Like their House counterparts, the anger of Democratic senators was focused on the policy fights with Bush over overtime and other issues.
...

But don't forget .. we aren't supposed to be ANGRY :dunce:

[Sugarbleus]

5. DITTO that Kremer!!

What in bloody hell is going on!!!!!!!!!!!! I watched that cspan when the medicare fiasco happened..got NO sleep. Watched Daschle wimp out. NOW THIS?????????????????
I JUST got a memo from moveon telling me to call my reps because the thing passed in the house already????????? It was 11:00 pm before I got that memo. Guess I'll stay up all night in order to start calling my TURN COAT dem reps. Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzusss

Gawwwwwwwwwd, I'm pissed! And the society wonders why civil wars happen, why crime goes up, why people become apathetic.

This government has become a series of Clusterf**ks!
It's socialism for the capitalists...lol how divinely oxymoronic eh?
:grr: