From WaPo
The Senate gave final approval last night to a $410 billion spending bill to fund most of the federal government for the remainder of the year after overcoming a resilient Republican opposition and several Democratic defections.
The bill, which includes thousands of controversial earmarks inserted by members of both parties, was approved on a voice vote after eight Republicans joined 54 Democrats in backing a procedural measure to bring the long and rancorous debate to a close. President Obama has indicated that he will sign the legislation despite having misgivings about the earmarks. …
The bill represents a bonanza for federal agencies that felt a budget squeeze for much of Bush’s two terms. Mass transit, public housing, the National Institutes of Health, Head Start and the Pell grant program are all among the Democratic priorities that would see new federal money flow into their coffers. The Food and Drug Administration would receive nearly $335 million more than it did in fiscal 2008. The supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children, known as WIC, would grow by $1.2 billion, a 21 percent jump from the $5.7 billion appropriated last year.
The Republicans who voted for cloture and against forcing changes in the bill to eliminate earmarks and irresponsible spending increases.
Lamar Alexander
Kit Bond
Thad Cochran
Lisa Murkowski
Richard Shelby
Olympia Snowe
Arlen Specter
Roger Wicker
Only three Democrats showed any fiscal restraint, however, knowing the bill would pass made it all that much easier to placate their constituents and look like a hero.
Evan Bayh
Russ Feingold
Claire McCaskill
AWB
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Even some local folks we know are participating with earmarks of their own:
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080319/NEWS03/803190331/
Also see
http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=FY09Appropriations
for more details
For some reason the second link did show, here it is again:
http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=FY09Appropriations
Actually it does work, you just have to scroll down after clicking it.
Dan:
A little off topic, but I JUST noticed the “ALFRED E. OBAMA” in your banner…
…suh-weet!
“Only three Democrats showed any fiscal restraint, however, knowing the bill would pass made it all that much easier to placate their constituents and look like a hero.”
Or perhaps they just didn’t agree with the bill. Senator Bayh has been out in front with his opposition; it wasn’t a last minute decision…
“Only three Democrats showed any fiscal restraint, however, knowing the bill would pass made it all that much easier to placate their constituents and look like a hero.”
I agree with Mr. Pruitt!
It was the same with Feingold.
He didn’t agree with the bill either.