McConnell Highlights Double-Dipping in Spending Bill

McConnell Highlights Double-Dipping in Spending Bill (Washington, DC) U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement on the Senate floor Tuesday regarding the Omnibus Appropriations bill: "During his campaign, the President said he would not sign any non-emergency spending until the American people had at least five days to review it on the White House web site. "So there is no reason for us to rush through this Omnibus Appropriations Bill when the White House has already promised it wont sign it without the requisite five-day review. "Besides, weve known about the Friday deadline for months, so any pressure to rush this bill is completely manufactured. "The responsible way forward is not to rush through another giant bill, but for the House to prepare a short-term CR so we have time to study and debate the Omnibus on the floor. "Back in January, Republicans urged the President to move the Omnibus before the Stimulus. Its now obvious why: "The Omni contains funds for 122 programs that were already funded in the Stimulus. It also represents an 8% increase over last years regular appropriations, twice the rate of inflation. "What all this means is that at a time when most Americans are tightening their belts, Washington is going out and buying a bigger one. "Just consider the deficit: When we passed the last CR, the deficit was $460 billion. In January, the CBO estimated this years deficit would be $1.2 trillion. Now, after the past month, we expect the deficit to be $1.6 trillion. "Now consider some of the recent spending weve done or are contemplating doing around here: Some of us are still dizzy from the $1 trillion Stimulus. Were trying to conceptualize the $3.6 trillion budget the President sent us last week. Were bracing for the potentially quarter trillion Housing plan that goes into effect tomorrow. And were thinking about the $1 to $2 trillion we expect to be asked to spend on the financial sector. "So we wont be rushed to spend another $410 billion without the requisite review. "We need to slow down, and make sure the American people understand how we intend to spend their tax dollars. The Omnibus is a massive bill, it demands our close attention." (Copyright 2007 Newsroom Solutions, LLC) Delivered by Newsroom Solutions RNS-03-03-09 0943CST