Omnibus bill

Thursday

Grace Curley

Democrats and Republicans agree… on wasting taxpayer dollars

Who says Democrats and Republicans can’t find common ground? According to the Senate’s recent approval of the $1.7 trillion omnibus bill, bipartisanship is still possible after all. There’s just something about dumping debt on the American people that brings both sides of the Swamp together. Chalk it up to holiday magic. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 68-29 and was met with a round of applause from antsy lawmakers determined to get out of DC before the incoming storm. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer heaped praise on soon-to-be retiring Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont for his work on the bill. “What a capstone to a brilliant career,” he gushed.

omnibus bill

Tuesday

Taylor Millard

Return of the congressional earmark zombie

Much like a Hollywood movie monster franchise, earmarks are back in the federal government. Congress’s $1.5 trillion omnibus bill contains pages upon pages of so-called “member-directed spending” for hundreds of pet projects in congressional districts across the country. Senator Mike Braun put the final earmark count at $8 billion, taking up 367 pages of the 2,700-page bill that funds the government through the end of the fiscal year. Congress banned earmarks in 2011 thanks to a rather rare show of bipartisanship by House Republicans and then-President Barack Obama. Congressional bipartisanship then unanimously brought back earmarks last year.