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Political Cartoons
Omnibus Budget Bill Overflowing With Special Interest Earmarks
By Cartoon: RJ Matson of Roll Call
Project: Cynthia Kirkeby, ClassBrain
Dec 20, 2007, 12:27 PST



© RJ Matson of Roll Call 2007


Omnibus Budget Bill Overflowing With Special Interest Earmarks

Congress approved a $555 billion the Omnibus Budget Bill by a vote of 272-142 Wednesday evening, December 19, 2007. Congressional representatives were supposed to vote on the back-breaking 3,417-page bill in just one day, which sent many representatives running to the press in frustration. The bill was supposed to cap discretionary funding at $932 billion (yes Billion with a capital B), but according to the Heritage Foundation it employs a number of gimmicks that push the amount at least $20 billion higher.

The earmarks in this budget bill exceeded 11,000! What exactly is an earmark? According to the rules committee at the U.S. House of Representatives, it is:
“To set aside funds for a specific purpose, use, or recipient. Generally speaking, virtually every appropriation is earmarked, and so are certain revenue sources credited to trust funds. In common usage, however, the term is often applied as an epithet for funds set aside for such purposes as research projects, demonstration projects, parks, laboratories, academic grants, and contracts in particular congressional districts or states or for certain specified universities or other organizations.”

Note: Also known as "pork."

Questions to Ponder

  • Review the Heritage Foundation's Five Benchmarks for the Omnibus Spending Bill.How did Congress do in meeting each of the five criteria?

  • Should Congress have to eliminate the $20 Billion by which they exceeded the President's spending limit?

  • Should there be specific rules when it comes to earmarking funds for special interests?

  • Should earmarks be limited by dollar amount, or by the size of the state, or by some other criteria?

  • Has the idea of a balanced budget disappeared?



Learning Links for the Omnibus Spending Bill

  • Omnibus Spending Bill Busts the Budget to Pay for Pork
    The 3,417-page (and counting) omnibus appropriations bill unveiled by Democratic appropriators provides further evidence that Congress has failed to curb its addiction to spending and pork.
    Source: The Heritage Foundation

  • Five Benchmarks for the Omnibus Spending Bill
    "The Democratic majority has broken their promise of fiscal responsibility. In a mere 10 months, the 110th Congress has passed legislation that would increase discretionary spending by $275 billion, and entitlement spending by $179 billion, over 10 years."
    Source: The Heritage Foundation

  • One Budget Cheer
    "...the political deal seems set, with Democrats passing a 3,400-page, $516 billion "omnibus" budget bill, and President Bush prepared to sign it. Both sides are claiming victory, which usually means that taxpayers are the losers."
    Source: The Wall Street Journal






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