Freedom Index

H.R. 1105: Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009

• 02-25-2009 Senate Vote 96 (Cloture to end debate) 

Omnibus Spending. H.R. 1105 is a +1,130 page consolidation of nine FY2009 appropriations bills that were unfinished business from the previous Congress. Total spending in the bill is $1.05 trillion, comprised of $410 billion in discretionary funding plus $637.5 billion in "mandatory" spending for entitlement programs, i.e. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. This spending is over and above the recent $787 billion stimulus plan and last fall's $700 billion bank bailout. Discretionary spending increased by 8%, the largest percentage increase in decades for discretionary spending in regular appropriations. The legislative branch is provided $4.4 billion, about an 11 percent increase. According to Taxpayers for Common Sense, the bill contains $7.7 billion in over 8,500 earmarks. Democrats defensively pointed out that 40 percent of the earmarks were requested by Republicans.

The bill is packed with funding for federal activity not authorized by the Constitution, involving such matters as foreign aid, education, and welfare programs which the states should manage, not a central government. An omnibus bill is a catchall monstrosity that evades clear accountability and masks widespread unconstitutional spending. Such a bill should always be opposed. Passage of a continuing resolution at the previous year's levels would have been preferable until Congress could pass separate annual spending bills that were appropriately reduced in cost in accordance with the Constitution. The Senate agreed 62-35 on March 10 (Roll Call  96) to a cloture motion to end debate, enabling a voice vote shortly afterwards that passed the bill, thus clearing it for the president.

The John Birch Society opposed this bill.

The final result: Passed

Related Links

Rep. Tom Coburn (R-OK): Enumerated powers abandoned, 3-4-2009

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