Senate clears $447 billion omnibus measure in 57 to 35 vote

By GottaLaff

Just in via email alert:

The Senate approved a $447 billion omnibus bill Sunday, clearing a package of six appropriations bills for President Obama's signature.

The measure, which passed the House last week, was approved by the Senate, 57 to 35. It contains funding for dozens of federal agencies and the District of Columbia. The measure also carries thousands of earmarks and double-digit spending increases for many programs, prompting Republicans to attack Democrats' priorities.

Much more here.

The L.A. Times emailed their version, no link:

The Senate today passed a $1.1 trillion spending bill with increased budgets for vast areas of the federal government including health, education, law enforcement and veterans' programs.

The 1,000-page-plus package, one of the last essential chores of Congress this year, passed 57-35 and now goes to President Barack Obama for his signature.

Democrats said the spending was critical to meet the needs of a recession-battered economy.

Republicans decried what they said was out-of control spending and pointed to an estimated $3.9 billion in the bill for more than 5,000 local projects sought by individual lawmakers from both parties.

Senator Evan Bayh, Hypocrite of Indiana

Not so sure about calling him a Democrat any more. Now, I have no problem with sensible earmarks, but you don't do this kind of crap unless you're up to being criticized for it. More about the other hypocrites at the link, but I'm focused on Bayh.

Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh (D) opposed yesterday's $410 billion omnibus spending bill because it was "bloated" and included $7.7 billion in earmarks. “At a time when so many American families are tightening their belts to make ends meet, Congress should be as equally committed to living within its means," he said in a statement.

(snip)

But as it turns out, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense, Bayh had four solo earmarks attached to his name in the legislation, worth $2.7 million; McConnell had 36 totaling $51 million; and Inhofe had 34 earmarks worth $53 million.

Indeed, of the 35 U.S. senators who opposed the omnibus spending bill last night -- in the form of a "no" on the cloture vote -- 28 of them had solo earmarks in the legislation.

(snip)

When First Read asked Bayh's office why he opposed the legislation yet had earmarks in it, spokesman Eric Kleiman replied, "Bayh ranks 78th in total earmarks in the omnibus bill. He was also one of only two Dem senators to vote for the McCain amendment last week to strip all earmarks from the bill, even his own."

Kleiman added, "As the recession has deepened in the last year, Sen. Bayh believes Congress should show faith with the American people and demonstrate the federal government is capable of living within its means.**"

**How's that for a non-answer answer?

President Obama Discusses Earmarks and the Budget

Senate clears omnibus bill

Shove it and move along.

A $409.6 billion omnibus appropriations bill cleared Congress Tuesday even as the White House pursued new steps to try to pare back the level of parochial spending projects attached to the budget each year.

President Barack Obama is expected to sign the measure into law quickly to avoid any disruption of government operations. But Democrats anticipate that he may use the signing to outline new earmark reforms and answer Republican critics led by his old rival Sen. John McCain** (R-Ariz.)

**You lost, you lost, you lost big time.

Another Vitter Pill: David Vitter introduces legislation defunding Planned Parenthood

By GottaLaff

From the guy who alerted us to the GOP's being "scared to death" of President Obama's popularity, and is infamous for a few other things...

Earlier this year, Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), who was named in the DC Madam prostitution scandal, co-sponsored the Marriage Protection Amendment, which would amend the Constitution to declare that marriage “shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman.”

...he force-feeds us yet another Vitter pill:

The Louisiana senator has introduced an amendment to the omnibus spending bill before the Senate to drastically cut funding for family planning programs. Vitter’s amendment states that “none of the funds appropriated under this Act shall be made available to Planned Parenthood for any purpose under title X of the Public Health Service Act.”

The Rushpublic party has one more page of their political diary for us to go back and read to America at the appropriate time. Dogear this one. It should come in handy.