H. Res. 184: Providing for Consideration of the Omnibus - the "Democrats More Spending" Bill

Statement

H. Res. 184: Providing for Consideration of the Omnibus - the "Democrats More Spending" Bill

I rise today in Strong opposition to this Completely Closed Rule, and to the ill-conceived underlying legislation. Week after week my friends on the other side of the aisle continue to bull-dose their massive spending bills through the floor of the House with no Republican input, and no regular order.

This is the 3rd time in a little over a month that I have managed a rule in the 111th Congress where my Democrat colleagues have had NO hearings, held NO markups, and allowed for NO amendments by the Republicans. Senator Reid was quoted yesterday saying that he is going to allow Republicans and Democrats to offer amendments in the Senate, so why won't Speaker Pelosi allow the Members of the House the same privilege?

In an effort to encourage the Democrat Leadership to uphold their promise to the American people of being the most "open, honest and ethical" Congress, the House Republican leadership, including myself, sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer, dated the 5th of this month, that asked them to immediately post the text of the Omnibus and all of the earmark and spending projects included. I ask Unanimous Consent that the letter be inserted in the Congressional Record.

Yet once again, the Democrats posted the text of this massive spending bill, which holds 9 of the remaining 12 Appropriations bills, only a day and a half before the vote. The letter states, that "in the midst of a severe recession, taxpayers have a right to see each provision of this legislation and evaluate the merit of each dollar of government spending their children and grandchildren are being required to fund." Americans deserve better.

Also on February 5th, at the House Democrats' annual policy conference, Speaker Pelosi was quoted stating that after the Stimulus package reached President Obama's desk, I quote "of course we will go forward under regular order," and continued "We now have a large majority and a president who will sign legislation." M. Speaker, President Obama has signed the Stimulus package into law, and Speaker Pelosi continues to go against her word and avoid regular order.

Last week, I had the opportunity to talk with many of my constituents back home in Texas, and they are growing increasingly upset and concerned with the amount of massive spending this Democrat Majority is pursuing. Last week President Obama signed a $792 billion "stimulus" package into law that consisted of over $500 billion in new spending. This week the Democrats are at it again. Now we are discussing a $410 billion Omnibus for a fiscal year we are almost half way through!

The legislation we are discussing today is an actual increase of 8.3% over the 2008 fiscal year funding, which is more than $32 billion. The Omnibus Appropriations bill contains funding for many of the same agencies and programs that received funds in the "stimulus" bill. Therefore, to uncover the true level of spending for these programs this year, the funding levels of both bills must be combined.

The combined FY 2009 funding for agencies included in the Omnibus and the Stimulus is $680 billion - $301 billion more than these programs received in 2008, for an combined 80% increase in spending this year!

This week the President held a fiscal responsibility summit that was attended by Republicans and Democrats. How can the President take my Democrat colleagues seriously when they spend another $410 billion after the $792 billion stimulus? There is nothing fiscally responsible regarding designating $1.2 trillion in spending in just two weeks!

Its not just spending my Democrat colleagues are pushing with this $410 Omnibus bill, the Democrat majority is using this massive spending bill to advance sweeping national policy changes through the Congress without public scrutiny and proper debate. This legislation repeals the Endangered Species Act listing of the polar bear, which could affect nationwide policy on greenhouse gas emissions by adding increased regulations; eliminates school vouchers for DC residents, limiting their options on school choice; weakens existing travel restrictions to Cuba; and eliminates the "Reading First" program within the Department of Education, a program that is ensures that all U.S. children learn to read well by the end of the third grade. These are just a handful of issues that my Democrat colleagues are legislating on in this massive Omnibus spending bill, which is neither appropriate nor standard practice in an Appropriations bill.

American families and small businesses are making sacrifices and cutting expenses due to the tough economic times. Yet the Democrat majority continues to spend like there is no problem. Republicans welcome President Obama's call for fiscal responsibility, and we are willing to make the hard choices necessary to bring fiscal responsibility to Washington. Republican leadership has called for a spending freeze in a letter to Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer this past Monday. At this time I ask it be inserted in the Congressional Record. At a time of deficits, a freeze would allow the federal government to continue functioning at current levels, while showing the commitment to the American people that we are taking this crisis seriously.

This Congress must do better than this to prevent the growth of the federal budget from encroaching on the family budgets of taxpayers in Texas and across the United States. I oppose this rule and the underlying legislation as it is currently drafted, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Our country is facing a very serious economic crisis, and this Democrat Majority thinks we can borrow and spend our way back to prosperity. We should listen to the Republican leadership and call for a fiscal freeze, and provide a continuing resolution for the rest of the year, to save as much of the taxpayer's dollar as we can.

If the previous question is defeated, I will offer an amendment to the Rule that takes the Democrat amendment one step further and not only stops the automatic cost-of-living adjustment due to be provided to Members of Congress for the fiscal year 2010, but freezes it immediately. This would keep Members of Congress salary at the 2008 levels for the next two years. The Democrat Majority's amendment as drafted actually expires on October 1, 2009 and doesn't limit salary for Members of Congress in 2010.

With 11 million or more American citizens unemployed and more losing their jobs everyday, Congress should not be increasing their salary this year or the year after until we can provide solid solutions to the economic troubles that face our nation.

If my Colleagues on both sides of the aisle are serious about solving this economic crisis, they will join me in defeating the previous question so that the House will be able show the American people they are serious about the task at hand. I ask unanimous consent to include my amendment and extraneous material be printed just prior to the vote on the previous question.

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