On Tuesday evening, the United States Senate voted 70-25 to advance the monstrous $1.7 trillion Omnibus spending bill, and open debate.
Among those 70 votes were 21 Republican lawmakers. TWENTY-ONE Senators betrayed their party and constituents by voting across party lines.
The bill is filled to the brim with nonsense special interests, such as sending $45 billion to Ukraine, allotting $7.5 million for LGBTQ programs, and funding for January 6 prosecution.
Where is the funding for border security?
The nearly two dozen Republicans who voted in favor of the bill are as follows:
- Roy Blunt
- John Boozman
- Shelley Moore Capito
- Susan Collins
- John Cornyn
- Tom Cotton,
- Lindsey Graham
- Charles Grassley
- Cindy Hyde-Smith
- Mitch McConnell,
- Jerry Moran,
- Lisa Murkowski
- Rob Portman
- Mitt Romney
- Mike Rounds
- Marco Rubio
- Richard Shelby
- John Thune
- Tommy Tuberville
- Roger Wicker
- Todd Young
I expect it from RINOs like Cotton, Graham, McConnell, and Romney. However, I am surprised to see Rubio on that list.
As Conservative activist Charlie Kirk tweeted, “Who needs Democrats when you have Republicans like these?
Senator Rand Paul blasted the spending bill pushed by Democrat Senators Chuck Schumer and outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“I brought along the 1.7 trillion, 4,000+ page Pelosi-Schumer omnibus spending bill that’s being fast-tracked through the Senate. This process stinks. It’s an abomination. It’s a no good rotten way to run government. We’re standing up and saying NO,” he said Tuesday.
WATCH:
In an attempt to defend this train-wreck of a bill, McConnell told reporters that sending assistance to Ukraine is the number one priority for the United States right now….who exactly is this a top priority for, other than D.C.??
“Providing assistance for Ukrainians to defeat the Russians is the number one priority for the United States right now according to most Republicans. That’s how we see the challenges confronting the country at the moment,” the Kentucky lawmaker said.
WATCH:
Earlier this week, Pelosi wrote a letter, pushing the urgency and importance of the package. She noted that it includes provisions to increase nutrition funding for lower income children, assistance to victims of natural disasters, and a large increase for veterans’ health care.
“It is urgent and necessary that we enact this omnibus package, so that we may keep government open and delivering for America’s families,” she wrote.
Pelosi bragged, “Key Democratic victories on health care include:
- Ensuring permanent, mandatory and continuous coverage for the 40 million children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP.
- Record Medicaid funding for Puerto Rico and permanent enhanced Medicaid funding for all other territories, helping expand affordable, quality care to more Americans.
- Historic funding for the critical Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting initiative, which improves health outcomes for pregnant people and young families who live in underserved communities.
- Strong guardrails to prevent disruption to families’ health coverage, as states resume Medicaid recertifications next year.
- New investments in mental health services, which will improve access to medication-assisted treatment, expand our mental health workforce and increase coverage of mental health services.
- Improving diversity in FDA clinical trials and providing FDA regulation of cosmetics.
- Passing the PREVENT Pandemics Act, which uses lessons learns from COVID-19 to improve our preparedness for future public health emergencies.
As you know, funding for our heroic veterans falls under non-defense discretionary funding. Importantly, we have secured $21 billion increase for veterans’ health care – including supporting the VA as it implements our landmark PACT Act.
Additional key Democratic victories include:
- Creating a nationwide permanent Summer EBT Program so that 29 million kids can get healthy, nutritious meals throughout the summer.
- For the first time in more than a decade, more funding for the National Labor Relations Board, which helps defend the right to organize.
- Emergency disaster support to help victims of hurricanes and wildfires throughout our country, to address the water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, and $1 billion for Puerto Rico’s electrical grid.
- Reforming the Electoral Count Act of 1887, which will help thwart future attempts to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power like we saw on January 6th.
- Critical Community Project Funding, to support vital projects that meet the needs of our families in our districts.”
This package is nearly $80 billion MORE than current levels for defense programs, which already sit at a hefty $858 billion. It also includes $773 billion for domestic initiatives, which covers the $119 billion allowed for veterans’ health care.
A whopping 22% increase over 2022’s spending.
