"This is no way to govern in a democracy, but here we are." Bill expressly prohibits Border Patrol funding from being used to improve border security...
This week, while Democrats still (barely) have enough power to pass it, the 117th Congress is about to rush through a 4,155-page, $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill that the WSJ Editorial Board has called the “worst in history.”
“This is no way to govern in a democracy, but here we are,” the board writes.
The final bill was quietly dropped Monday in the ‘dead of night’- and by Thursday, if all goes to plan, it will get rushed through for a vote.
“I brought with me the omni, 4,155 pages. When was it produced? In the dead of night. 1:30 in the morning it was released,” said Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) during a press conference with Sens. Mike Braun, Ron Johnson, Mike Lee and Rick Scott – the only dissenting Senate Republicans.
Overall, the bill contains $858 billion for defense – an increase of 9.7%, and $45 billion more than President Biden sought. It will, among other things, give military members a 4.6% raise and help replenish dwindling weapons stocks. $45 billion has also been earmarked for new military and economic aid for Ukraine.
“What is more dangerous to the country? $1.1 Trillion in new debt or as Republican leadership likes to say, “Oh, it is a win! It is a big win. We’re getting $45 billion for the military,”” said Paul. “So which is more important? Which threatens the country more? Are we at risk of being invaded by a foreign power if we don’t put $45 billion into the military? Are we more at risk by adding to a $31 trillion debt?”
There’s also a symbolic $275 million cut to the IRS’s annual budget… (out of $80 billion), which the GOP is doing a victory lap over.
It also removes the Vice President’s ability to void an election via the Electoral Count Act Reform, and clarifies that the role of the VP in the process is purely ceremonial.
For more details of the swamp money grab, Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC)’s office has been digging through the text and has found quite a few gems.
The omnibus bill also includes;