Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009
Floor Speech
OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2009 -- (House of Representatives - February 25, 2009)
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Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise in reluctant opposition to this bill. While I'm very grateful for the funding items included for my district--items that combat rampant drug abuse, clean up our waterways, and promote economic development for the citizens of southern and eastern Kentucky--I am compelled to evaluate the whole bill before casting my vote.
Because of the runaway and wasteful spending items, continued abuse of the appropriations process for political ends, and misguided policy riders, I cannot compromise my core values, and must oppose this legislation.
First, fiscal discipline. There is no evidence of it here. It was just two weeks ago that this body passed a bloated, trillion-dollar stimulus bill--a wrong-headed piece of legislation that was much more of a down payment on a radical, left-leaning agenda, than the true jolt our struggling economy actually needed.
The omnibus legislation before us today is simply the second act, funding many of the same wasteful programs as before, with no accountability, and represents the largest single increase in domestic spending in 30 years. We are putting our children and grandchildren at perilous risk--borrowing money we don't have, and plunging our country even further into debt. It is not sustainable in the long term, and I fear our actions will only worsen the economic situation our country currently faces.
Secondly, this bill was crafted in secrecy, out of public sight, and five months behind schedule. The bills being considered today, totaling over $410 billion dollars, have never even been considered on the floor of this body until today. They have been crafted and negotiated by staff under the direction of the Speaker of the House without the involvement of the vast majority of Members of Congress. No amendments, virtually no debate, and no public scrutiny. This process has been more dictative than legislative, with the Speaker holding the megaphone.
And finally, this bill is littered with questionable policy riders that are an affront to the conservative principles and family values many of us hold dear. Most alarming to me is the assault on the rights of the unborn--the most vulnerable citizens of our society; $545 million is designated for foreign ``family planning'' clinics, ensuring that overseas abortions will be performed with U.S. taxpayer dollars for the first time in nearly a decade. Even more egregious, the bill reverses long-standing policy, and actually allows U.S. funds to flow to foreign organizations that support coercive abortions and involuntary sterilizations. These provisions, combined with drastic cuts in abstinence education, seem designed to promote an ``abortion first'' policy in this country, and I cannot stand idly by and in good conscience vote for a piece of legislation that does that.
Mr. Speaker, it didn't need to be this way. There was ample opportunity for bipartisanship and enacting sound fiscal policies throughout this process. Instead, we have another flawed bill, crafted under a cloak of darkness.
This body is capable of far better, and I urge Members to oppose this bill.
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