Senate Dem leader drops nearly $1.3T spending bill

Washington Post ^ | December 16, 2010

[Second Amendment First]

Democrats controlling the Senate have abandoned a 1,924-page catchall spending measure that's laced with homestate pet projects known as earmarks and that would have provided another $158 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nevada Democrat Harry Reid gave up on the nearly $1.3 trillion bill after several Republicans who had been thinking of voting for the bill pulled back their support.

GOP leader Mitch McConnell threw his weight against the bill in recent days, saying it was in his words "unbelievable" that Democrats would try to muscle through in just a few days legislation that usually takes months to debate.

Reid said he would work with McConnell to produce a short-term funding bill to keep the government running into early next year.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The top Senate Republican has offered a one-page bill to prevent a government shutdown on Saturday as an alternative to a 1,924-page catchall spending measure offered by Democrats.

Kentucky Republican Mitch McConnell says it's unbelievable that Democrats want to pass the measure in just a few days as Christmas approaches. He says Congress should pass a less costly bill next year - when Republicans will have more leverage.

[luvie]

When Reid is involved...I always want to know “what is the
trick”? I don’t trust him, Pelosi OR their puppetmaster in
the WH!

[hsalaw]

I want to know why the Republicans would even think of voting for this.

Here's part of the answer: Collins, Snowe, Brown, and Gramnesty.

[pillut48]

Way to go, “Mike” McConnell!!! :-)

I say, let’s have MORE one page bills! Make earmarks and pork ILLEGAL!!! And enforce that law!!!!

[johnthebaptistmoore]

You should include all of the RINOS up for re-election in ‘12 to this list, too. RINOS vote with Democrats way too often, on many issues.

[dixiechick2000]

Ho, Ho, Ho is more right than you could ever imagine! lol

Thank you, potlatch!

[tobyhill]

Make them read ALL bills then shut the Government down.

[nikos1121]

Does this mean that the ethanol subsidies are tabled till next year?

Ethanol. Everyone knew it was a bogus thing. Destroying food for fuel? Have we gone mad in this country?

And despite that Grassley and others want to keep the subsidies going...?

I hate this....I am sick and tired of this....Isn’t there someone....One person who has any sense in this Congress....who can stand up and articulate what all of us feel.....?

[EBH]

I agree...obviously I thought it needed to be repeated...

ONE PAGE.

Dear Dems. take the ONE PAGE, cease and desist, or quite frankly millions of Americans will say...

SHUT IT DOWN!

[mstar]

Why did it go down? You had Jim DeMint rallying outside opposition, and pushing Reid’s back against the wall procedurally with the threat to have the whole monstrosity read on the floor;

Just absolutely love this . . . go Jim DeMInt!

[ballplayer]

Well Razmataz If you check out my Post You Will see I said Absolutely NOTHING about the Omnibus Bill because that had Not even become the issue.I was Speaking about only The Repeal of DADT,The START treaty,and the DREAM act,DOPE,see for Yourself http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2642854/posts .
Now In your ignorance you probably have not seen the News today that Scott Brown has said he intends to Vote to Repeal DADT giving the Repeal 61 Senate Votes, Convienient isnt it. The Day the Omnibus distraction is dumped the So called “TAX CUT” is passed now freeing up the Calendar for next weeks work. Now I wonder what that might be?
Futhermore Major Garrett formerly of Fox News now with National Journal Was Interviewed on the Steve Malzberg show in New York and Guess what he said,John Kyle from Arizona has been Negotiating with Obama Since Katrina on The Estate Tax,he wanted it to be 35 percent,which it is and he told the President that the Number one issue for the Republicans was the extension of the Bush Tax rates and if he would sign off on that the REPUBLICANS would work With Him on all his Issues,I wonder what those Might Be? Check Back Next week I will keep you up to date

[sickoflibs]

RE :”I think you and I (on another thread) agreed that although the pork in the Tax Deal makes the GOP leadership look dumb, or corrupt, or both, the Dem spending bill gave the GOP a chance for redemption. Then Krauthammer said the GOP should stop the Obama tax deal (which would be good if they could pull it off without infuriating voters), and also said that they should not oppose the spending bill because that would lead to 1990s style government shutdown with the GOP getting the blame. We were right, and Krauthammer has not been so wrong since the start of the Tea Parties (which he predicted would not endure though the next election).”

Short term this helps Obama as his approval numbers are rising because this irresponsible Santa bill is very popular. Republicans should have demanded what they are doing with the budget bill, extending both tax cuts and compensation a few months till next year.

I guess they figured Republican voters would think this is a HUGE victory as most drank the Koolaid “ Obama will never compromise or move to the center to get re-elected because of his ideological beliefs”. Rush was still saying that just before the election . If you believe that, then maybe a two year extension of all the Bush tax cuts looks a big victory. I thought Obama always wanted that anyway, unless there was an impressive jobs recovery by last August. Cutting a deal with Republicans helps him but makes progressive house Democrats look silly. And it will be their hero Pelosi that knife's them again.

[spokeshave]

Gawd, Pelosi, she looks like warmed over death

Yeah ...they Botoxed her butt in mistake...

[aruanan]

I guess Obama didn’t want to sign it. It’s the only reason I can think of why they would drop it. It’s not GOP objections.

The Republicans had 41 votes. That's what blocked it. And the 41st vote was...Mark Kirk, IL.

[Lazamataz]

You are so ANGRY!

You need rest.

[Ole Okie]

McConnell also had $85 million in so-called earmarks for Kentucky so he had to read the riot act to himself too, lol.

Yeah. There was a massive amount of Repub earmarks in that bill. They supposedly were put there before the November election.

As dull of hearing as the Repubs are, some of them got an inkling that an earthquake had occurred.

[bIlluminati]

I believe ethanol subsidies were part of the Obama death tax bill.

[ballplayer]

Ha Ha Ha !!!!!!!!!!!! Cant Take the Truth ,thank you very Much for admitting you were wrong HA HA HA!!!

[Lazamataz]

You silly. :)

[potlatch]

[potlatch]

[They supposedly were put there before the November election. ]

Yes, I read up on it and they were. I would imagine McConnell knew he was in trouble after the election results, lol.