Omnibusting: Omnibus Spending Bill, Earmarks, Pork and Budget Gimmicks

Republican Study Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Tex.) plans to seek an immediate suspension of the earmarking process after learning Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-Mich.) suggested to Speaker Nancy Pelosi that the procurement of additional earmarks could assist the campaigns of vulnerable Democrats.

In a letter to Pelosi last Thursday, Kilpatrick noted the unequal distribution of earmarks and suggested a more favorable distribution of taxpayer-funded earmarks would help members of the Congressional Black Caucus in their political campaigns.

Inherently, we understand that this earmark process is not equitable. … There are a few examples of where your help could significantly assist a few members in highly contested races.

Hensarling cited a report earlier this year from the Wall Street Journal, which reported that veteran appropriator Rep. John Murtha had “rebuilt [his] hometown on earmarks,” noting that “Johnstown’s good fortune has come at the expense of taxpayers everywhere else.”

Less than 24 hours after Democrats unveiled a mammoth omnibus spending bill, the House of Representatives moved swiftly last night to approve it, shifting the battle to the Senate. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has promised to add about $40 billion to the bill for U.S. troops in Iraq; Democrats don’t appear to have the votes to stop it.

The House took two votes last night, the first for a bill without money for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. It won approval, 253 to 154, with 41 Republicans breaking ranks to support the measure. Eight Democrats voted with the GOP. The second vote, on a bill that included $31 billion for fighting in Afghanistan, was much closer, 206 to 201. Democrats needed to woo five Republicans to back the measure otherwise it would have failed. Eighteen Democrats voted against the measure.

Republicans voted against the latter bill because it included money only for troops serving in Afghanistan, suggesting Congress viewed the military men and women in Iraq differently. With the legislation now moving to the Senate, Republicans expect to add the Iraq money to the bill.