Where does one begin to deconstruct the wasteful, over-bloated U.S. funding bill, a.k.a. “Omnibus”? Officially, H.R. 2617 or ‘‘Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023’’ (https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/JRQ121922.PDF). It’s sectioned by all major U.S. Departments, Divisions, Commissions and “Interests” and lots of ‘fat’, called earmarks.
It’s a gigantic & horrific piece of legislation, to be certain, at 4,100+ pages plus 2,670 explanatory pages!
Assuredly, I did more than most of the U.S. Legislators: I read a healthy portion of it! While it didn’t improve my appreciation for the U.S.’s legislator’s decisions, it did cure my insomnia!
Congress was perennially, predictably late (3 months) in producing a 2023 Budget. Thereby, supporting their ongoing mantra: procrastinate on important matters and focus on social ambivalence! Instead of being responsible by proactively evolving a ‘healthy’ Bill, they wait-and-wait until final moments to produce a ‘strawman’ – reminiscent of a teen cleaning their room in exchange for something desirous!
In perusing the Bill, I separated the actual “funding” portion from the 7,200+ “earmarks” contained in it. The earmarks represented approximately $1.6 Billion, or roughly 1% of the entire $1.7 Trillion Bill. The 1% isn’t the issue, it’s the fact these monies go to superfluous things and entitlements leveraged by less-than altruistic legislator’s!
Romina Boccia, Director of Budget and Entitlement Policy at the Cato Institute, wrote an excellent article (https://www.cato.org/blog/five-things-know-about-monstrous-lame-duck-omnibus) in October, predicting the forthcoming blunder, “Omnibus”, by pushing the Bill’s vote date, to as-late-as-possible, assuring it’s passage. The final vote was reset for Dec. 23rd, the last day prior to Congress’ Christmas break. I commend Congress members remaining to hastily vote on the Bill AND I condemn them for not reading it’s destructive content.
Oh, and the Upper & Lower Chambers, truly, make certain they are financially covered & healthy! Beginning on page 1133 of the Bill, you’ll see the 10’s of $ billions they’ve assigned themselves, secretaries, officers, committees, Sergeant-at-Arms, doorkeepers, Chaplain, et al.
Want another example? Pelosi increased staff annual salaries, via your tax dollars, twice in 2022 from $199,300 to $212,100 (https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/123022). And increased MRA (member’s representational allowance) by 21% – that’s discretionary spending!
The past’s cacophony of legislator’s voices decrying an uncontrolled, free-spending government has been replaced by soul-less, shameless, self-serving, power-abusive, useless, oxygen-exchanging, warm-blooded, bi-ped units.
I care not which political party supported the Bill, they are ALL culpable for reckless, unaccountable and capricious stewardship of our tax dollars!
They spend money like a Kardashian on Rodeo Drive…
Submitted by:
Gil Olachea
Ceramica, Scottsdale, AZ
Well said Gil, we see our government is deeply corrupt, this 1.7 trillion is simply one of their latest criminal actions against America. If their plan is to destroy America, they are certainly on target on hundreds of levels. Dear Dems, what are you supporting?