Rep. Frank Lucas Statement on Opposition to Massive Omnibus Spending Bill

Washington, DC – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1105, the omnibus appropriations bill that will fund the federal government through the remainder of FY 2009.  This omnibus bill, at a cost of $410 billion, includes the nine appropriations bills that were not passed last year.  They are Agriculture; Commerce, State, and Justice; Energy and Water; Financial Services; Department of Interior; Labor and Health and Human Services; Legislative Branch; Department of State and Foreign Ops; and Transportation and Housing and Urban Development.  Rep. Lucas voted against the bill.

“The President has made it clear that his priority is to work in a bipartisan manner and to ensure an open and fair legislative process of all pieces of legislation.  However, his party’s congressional leaders are not abiding by his request.  Just as with the ‘stimulus’ package, Speaker Pelosi broke her own promise to her party and the American people and bypassed proper procedure, cramming this thousand-paged, $410 billion bill across the House floor without any markups or input from both sides of the aisle.

“The federal government’s spending habit has gotten out of control.  This omnibus spending package is an 8% increase over last year, at an additional cost of $32 billion.  But that doesn’t tell the entire story- including  the spending in the trillion dollar ‘stimulus’ package, federal spending has increased by 80% from last year, at an additional cost of almost $680 billion.

“I understand that compromises will need to be made and look forward to working with my colleagues on fiscally responsible policy.  But as the President stated earlier this week, the federal government must get spending under control so we do not leave our children and grandchildren with a debt they cannot repay.  The American people are resilient, hard working, and innovative.  I have complete confidence that we can come through these current financial problems a stronger and more economically sound nation.”

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