HR 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, is the proverbial “Cherry on Top” of the wasteful Stimulus Package. For the hard-working, tax-paying American, it is madness that within days of the passage of the largest spending bill in history, there is another colossal spending bill ready for passage! But that is the sort of Orwellian dream in which our Representatives in Congress seem to live. If an extra large spending bill is enough to make the American people simmer, imagine how they would feel if they knew that HR 1105 provides for a 7.5% increase in funding across the board? And at a time when nearly all Americans are cutting back to save themselves from ruin? The U.S. House of Representatives Republican Committee on Appropriations launched a scathing criticism of the House Democrats’ inability to grasp reality:

One of the basic duties of Congress is to pass annual spending bills to fund the federal government. As part of this process, Congress is responsible for making tough budget decisions and providing critical oversight of government spending, while representing the interests of the taxpayers who foot the bill. The FY 2009 Omnibus is the essence of the Democrat Majority’s failure to fulfill these basic responsibilities.

To make matters worse, this massive spending bill was created undercover and out of view of the American public. Only three of the bills contained in the Omnibus were cleared by the full House Appropriations Committee in a public mark-up, and none were considered on the House floor. The rest have been crafted and negotiated by staff under the direction of the Democrat leadership without the involvement of the vast majority of Members of Congress or the public.

This back-door dealing has resulted in an Omnibus package that represents the interests of a handful of Democrat leaders and staff. Everyone else – including Democrat and Republican Members of Congress and American taxpayers – has been left out.

One thing is absolutely certain: the conniving lobbyists and special interests will have a front row seat in Speaker Pelosi’s office while this assault on America’s future is being drafted. Numerous House members had complained how lobbying firms received drafts of the Stimulus Package before they did; in some cases, lobbyist handwriting was scribbled into the margins, directing their lawmakers exactly where to put taxpayer money. And this time is no different.

Worst of all: This massive spending bill comes hard on the heels of President Obama’s Fiscal Responsibility conference, as well as repeated promises to end earmarks. As Yahoo Finance reports:

The measure includes thousands of earmarks, the pet projects favored by lawmakers but often criticized by the public in opinion polls. There was no official total of the bill’s earmarks, which accounted for at least $3.8 billion. The legislation, which includes an increase of roughly 8 percent over spending in the last fiscal year, is expected to clear the House later in the week.

No doubt, Rep. Rosa DeLauro will cast a YES vote for HR 1105 and another colossal financial assault on every single one of her struggling, worried constituents. And, her YES vote will be a grave insult to President Obama’s pledge to end earmarks and promote fiscal responsibility.

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