>> Spending bills, by law, originate in the House. Have you seen the spending bills lately?<<
O my gosh, did you not learn anything about politics SINCE the 3rd grade?
In the real world, the Senate initiates its very own spending bills long before the House passes its. The two very independently crafted bills go to a joint committee of both houses. Where they then pretty much agree to the Senate version, because the Senate has the power of the filibuster.
The House has passed far better spending bills, even bucking President Bush's enormous give-away to geezers. But there is little they can do to force the Senate to pass better legislation, short of shutting the government down.
Well?