Senate spending bill contains thousands of earmarks

Mass. has $213m stake in earmark fight
WASHINGTON — A $1.1 Trillion spending bill now under review in the Senate includes at least $213 million for 174 earmarked projects for Massachusetts in what amounts to a last-ditch effort to approve projects that have come under attack as wasteful pork by many Republicans and President Obama. The bill includes $400,000 for the Paul Revere House in Boston’s North End, $8 million for the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, and dozens of other Earmarks that would...

Why the GOP is in trouble over earmarks
Although Earmarks account for less than 1 percent of the Budget, they have become a political hot potato.  They are important because they serve as the "sugar" that allows massive and often toxic bills to pass.  When members of Congress see massive spending bills and break down the packages, they find it difficult, if not impossible, to support them.  In order to get these bills through they attach billions in spending for bills that go to benefit specific members districts or sta...

Senate OKs tax bill; House to vote Thursday
WASHINGTON — The Senate on Wednesday approved the $858 billion tax plan negotiated by the White House and Republican leaders, and House Democrats said they expected to pass the bill Thursday after a final, seemingly futile effort to change a provision that benefits wealthy estates. The Senate vote was 81-19 as Democrats yielded in their long push to end the Bush-era Tax Rates for high-income Taxpayers. Republicans agreed to back a huge stimulus package, including an extension of jobless ...

Spending bill racks up $2 billion in earmarks
Senate leaders and top appropriators from both parties racked up more than $2.2 billion in Earmarks in the massive omnibus spending bill that Democrats are pushing to enact in the final days of the 111th Congress. According to a Politico analysis of an earmark database compiled by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) racked up $252 million, Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) snagged another $145 million, Democratic Conference Vice Chairman Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) scor...

Senate spending bill contains thousands of earmarks
By Philip Rucker and Paul Kane Washington Post Staff Writers Wednesday, December 15, 2010 Weeks after swearing off Earmarks, many senators stand to gain tens of millions of dollars for pet projects in a massive spending bill that could be their last chance at the Money before a more conservative Congress begins next month. The $1.2 Trillion bill, released on Tuesday, includes more than 6,000 earmarks totaling $8 billion, an amount that many lawmakers decried as an irresponsible binge following...

Republicans Make Good On Threat To Force Lame Duck Spending Showdown
Before the midterms, conservative leaders were warning that they'd force a showdown over federal spending much earlier than expected: in the Lame Duck session, before the newly elected Republicans come to Washington. They weren't joking. Republican and Democratic leaders are now engaged in a brinksmanship that could result in a temporary shutdown of the Federal Government. After the election, Republicans voted among themselves to eschew all Earmarks for two years, and now they have to make go...

Spending Bill Tests GOP Resolve
A $1.1 Trillion Senate Democratic plan to fund the Federal Government—a nearly 2,000-page document that includes about 6,700 Earmarks—is drawing fire from conservative groups and some Republicans, setting up a test of GOP resolve to cut spending. View Full Image ...

Senate spending bill has $8B in earmarks
Published: Dec. 15, 2010 at 7:49 AM WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate's $1.2 Trillion spending bill has more than 6,000 Earmarks, seen by some as a last gasp before a more conservative Congress convenes. The $8 billion in earmarks drew cries of foul from senators, many of whom signed a pledge to swear off steering funds to pet projects in their districts to answer a voting public desirous of Washington curbing its spending appetite, The Washington Post reported. "The American People s...

Senate enthusiastically approves tax-cut deal
WASHINGTON — The Senate yesterday overwhelmingly passed a sweeping tax-cut package that extends lower Tax Rates for all Americans and tries to jolt a sluggish economy. The $858 billion Compromise now moves to the House, where opposition appears to be waning. President Obama urged the House to pass the deal quickly despite threats by some Democrats to amend it and pockets of resistance from conservative Republicans. The House could vote on the package as soon as today. Democrats are expect...

Senate passes Obama tax deal, sends it to House
The Senate easily passed an $858 billion deal to temporarily cut taxes at every income level and extend jobless benefits, as some House Democrats try to figure out how to stop Tax Breaks for the wealthy. The Senate vote was 81-19. Thirteen Democrats, independent Bernie Sanders and five Republicans voted "no." "I am absolutely convinced that this Tax Cut plan, while not perfect, will help grow our economy and create jobs in the Private Sector," President Obama said this morning. The deal covers t...

Senate passes Obama tax deal, sends it to House
The Senate easily passed an $858 billion deal to temporarily cut taxes at every income level and extend jobless benefits, as some House Democrats try to figure out how to stop Tax Breaks for the wealthy. The Senate vote was 81-19. Thirteen Democrats, independent Bernie Sanders and five Republicans voted "no." "I am absolutely convinced that this Tax Cut plan, while not perfect, will help grow our economy and create jobs in the Private Sector," President Obama said this morning. The deal covers t...

Current Senate Has Few Real Fiscal Champions
I have been reviewing two legislative movements in the Senate to get an idea of where the Tea Party stands when it comes to representation. Unfortunately, the news is not very good. On the issue of Earmarks, a select member of Senators resisted the temptation to add their own pet projects to the pork-laden omnibus bill. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the following Senators requested zero earmarks: Of those on this list, it’s worth noting that Manchin, Coons and Kirk were no...

House repeals DADT, Senate passes tax deal, votes to debate New START Treaty
Legislators took three key votes on Wednesday that will help pave the way for passage of some of President Barack Obama and the Democrats’ lame-duck priorities. In the House of Representatives, congressional members voted on a stand-alone provision to Repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. In May the House passed a Repeal of the Clinton-era ban on gays and Lesbians openly serving in the Military when it was attached to the lower chamber’s version of the 20...

Halfway home: Senate sends tax-rate bill to House
WASHINGTON (AP) - In a reach across party lines, the Senate overwhelmingly passed sweeping Legislation Wednesday to prevent a Jan. 1 income Tax Increase for millions and to renew jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed. A House vote is expected by Thursday. Within moments of the 81-19 Senate vote, President Barack Obama urged the House to follow suit without making any changes—a slap at rebellious Liberals working to stiffen the terms of an Estate Tax provision they characterize as ...

Senate approves extension of Bush tax cuts
Your article has been sent. WASHINGTON – The US Senate this afternoon gave its final approval to a sweeping tax and stimulus package that would extend Tax Cuts for all Americans and attempt to jolt The Economy into revival. Survey: Where do you stand? The Senate voted 81-to-19 in favor of the deal, with broad Bipartisan support. The Legislation still needs the approval of the House, something that could come as soon as late today, despite continued angst from Liberal Democrats. The comprom...

At What Point is Credibility Lost?
Today the Senate agreed with the motion to concur in the House Amdt. to the Senate Amdt. with Amdt. No. 4753 to H.R. 4853, the Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2010, Part III. Really everything that is wrong with the Congress and our political process can be found right there because the common name for what the Senate passed is Obama's Tax Cut deal with the Republicans. It was a major victory for looters, corporatists, and kleptocrats. Crumbs, Snake Oil and a disaster for the rest of us. It ...

Bay State pols stand firm vs. President Obama
Key members of the Bay State’s congressional delegation defied President Obama’s plea yesterday to pass his embattled tax package — saying they can’t support it unless breaks for the wealthy are dramatically reduced. “There’s a difference between Compromise and surrender, and I think what the president brought back is an abject surrender of our principles,” said U.S. Rep. Steven Lynch (D-South Boston). “I know we’re getting a lot of criticis...

Bay State pols stand firm vs. President Obama
Key members of the Bay State’s congressional delegation defied President Obama’s plea yesterday to pass his embattled tax package — saying they can’t support it unless breaks for the wealthy are dramatically reduced. “There’s a difference between Compromise and surrender, and I think what the president brought back is an abject surrender of our principles,” said U.S. Rep. Steven Lynch (D-South Boston). “I know we’re getting a lot of criticis...

Omnibus Spending Bill Loaded with Earmarks and New Spending
What do you call the Senate’s Omnibus Spending Bill?   An Earmark Bonanza — An Earmark-A-Thon — The Earmark-bus.  Clearly, this bill is an outrage to the Taxpayer and conservative Senators.  The Senate is about to vote on an Omnibus Spending Bill funding the Federal Government for the year.  House and Senate appropriators crafted a bill in secret and, just yesterday, provided text to Senators and the American People.  The bill is 1,924 pages l

No End to Pork Barrel Spending: Why We Are Going Broke
Evidently, at least one member of Congress thinks that $500,000 of your Tax Dollars is appropriate to construct a fish passage barrier for salmon in Alaska.  Although the Republican conference in both the House and Senate has sworn off Earmarks, it seems that some in the Senate need one last feast at the trough of pork barrel spending before 2011. The Senate is considering a catch all spending bill for the year, called the Omnibus Spending Bill that funds the Federal Government until Septembe...

DeMint Ends Demand To Read START Out Loud
Politico reports: South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint backed off his demand Wednesday to force a full reading of the New START Treaty, a move that may ease a legislative logjam amid a flurry of activity in the waning days of the congressional session. DeMint’s decision also signals that the long-debated START treaty may now have a serious chance to win ratification and hand the White House a major victory in the coming days. A procedural vote on the treaty Wednesday garnered 66 votes, a strong in...

Boehner: Veto it, Barack
President Obama said he is itching to fight. Might want to spray some Bactine on that first. From Republican House Leader John Boehner: “If President Obama is truly serious about ending Earmarks, he should oppose Senate Democrats’ pork-laden omnibus spending bill and announce he will Veto it if necessary. This bill represents exactly what the American People have rejected: more spending, more Earmarks, and more Big Government. Republicans strongly oppose this last-ditch Spending Spree, a s...

Earmark-laden omnibus bill taking taxpayers on a bad ride
See the salmon? XTC, "Omnibus," 1986. The Democratic controlled Senate is taking all of us on a ride by peddling a 1,924 page omnibus spending bill loaded with over 6,000 Earmarks. According to Sen. John McCain's office, the Legislation includes 6,488 earmarks totaling nearly $8.3 billion. In a Speech from the floor of the Senate, McCain blasted the bill, asking is his colleagues if they had been "stricken with Amnesia." "Enough with the spending, enough of mortgaging our Children and our grand...

Omnibus includes $8B in earmarks
Three hundred fifty thousand dollars for cool-season legume research in Idaho, North Dakota and Washington. A half million dollars for road roundabouts in Mississippi. And $1 million for arthropod damage in Nevada. They’re just a few of the 6,600 pet projects lawmakers from both parties – and both chambers – stuck inside an enormous spending bill unveiled by Senate Democrats on Tuesday, according to government Watchdog Taxpayers for Common Sense. The release of the $1.1 tril...

Democratic senator will oppose omnibus
A Democratic senator facing a tough Reelection battle in 2012 said on Wednesday that she would oppose a $1.1 Trillion spending bill before Congress. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said she'd break with her party to oppose the omnibus Legislation crafted by Democratic leaders, citing concerns over Earmarks contained in the legislation. "It'll be interesting to see — I'm voting no," she said in a Conference Call with Missouri reporters. "The omnibus is a name for the giant spending bills that...