Lawmakers Are Trying To Push Through A $1.3 Trillion Spending Bill

What’s on deck today? It’s a doozy. Lawmakers are pushing a $1.3 trillion spending measure. It would fund the government through the remainder of FY 2018. It’s 2,232 pages…

Read through the 2,232 page Omnibus funding bill just unveiled by GOP leaders https://t.co/L7wg06umkE pic.twitter.com/3dWHjuXYLu

— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) March 22, 2018

Also now linked, the over 1500 pages (and probably more) of report language on what's in the Omnibus https://t.co/L7wg06umkE

— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) March 22, 2018

Once all the report language is posted, this FY 2018 Omnibus will be close to 4,000 pages in all (bill text +report)

— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) March 22, 2018

Let’s be honest. Most Americans aren’t going to sit down and read that. That’s why I go to my one of my favorite “Washington insiders,” Jamie Dupree.

He highlighted the main takeaways of the ginormous bill. Here they are:

+ The bipartisan “Fix NICS” bill, which would press states and federal agencies to funnel more information into the instant background check system for gun buyers.

+ The “STOP School Violence Act,” which would send grant money to local governments to help schools better recognize possible violent threats in schools and their communities.

+ Nearly $1.6 billion to help build portions of a wall along the southern border with Mexico, with the locations specifically spelled out by the Congress.

+ $3.3 billion in extra funding to help states deal with the opioids crisis. There is also $94 million for efforts to stop opioids from being sent into the U.S.

+ $3 billion in extra funding for medical research at the National Institutes of Health.

+ $380 million to help the feds deal with election security questions revolving around possible Russian interference in 2018.

+ A series of technical tax law changes, commonly referred to as “technical corrections,” including some changes to the new tax law signed by President Donald Trump in December. The bill also includes extra money for the IRS to help with implementation of the law.

You can find more details on Jamie Dupree’s blog here.

House Speaker Paul Ryan sounds all in.

This critical funding bill fulfills our pledge to rebuild the nation’s military. It also addresses many of our national priorities, such as school safety, infrastructure, and fighting the opioid epidemic.

— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) March 22, 2018

We are delivering the biggest increase in defense funding in 15 years. Reports of training accidents and incidents point to a readiness crisis, and this bill fulfills our pledge to rebuild the nations military.

— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) March 22, 2018

This bill provides our service members with their biggest pay raise in 8 years. It also supports our veterans through a record level of funding for the VA.

— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) March 22, 2018

We must take action to control our borders. This bill begins construction of the wall and increases funding for immigration enforcement, ensuring that detainees are not harbored by sanctuary cities.

— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) March 22, 2018

Our country is facing an opioid epidemic. This bill provides funding for treatment, prevention, and law enforcement programs that stop the spread of these drugs and help save lives.

— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) March 22, 2018

Improvements to our nation’s infrastructure are long-overdue. With this bill, we’re directing resources to improve highways, railways, and airports across the country.

— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) March 22, 2018

Increases to career and technical education and apprenticeship programs will provide Americans with the opportunity to find jobs in high-growth field. This bill also funds child care and head start programs, making it easier for job seekers to find high-quality care.

— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) March 22, 2018

This funding bill addresses other key priorities:
✅ Maintains all existing pro-life policies
✅ Provides resources to safeguard amateur athletes from abuse
✅ Cracks down on human trafficking
✅ Helps the IRS implement the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act
✅ And more: https://t.co/CKnjVBzB4B

— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) March 22, 2018

Needless to say, this is a LOT of money. Many conservative lawmakers aren’t happy. Rep. Jim Jordan said, “This may be the worst bill I have seen in my time in Congress.”

.@Jim_Jordan: "The American people didn't elect Democrats to control the United States Congress. They elected Republicans." pic.twitter.com/KFVHlka0l3

— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 22, 2018

It’s a good thing we have Republican control of Congress or the Democrats might bust the budget caps, fund planned parenthood and Obamacare, and sneak gun control without due process into an Omni…wait, what?

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 21, 2018

I ran for office because I thought the Obama spending and trillion dollar annual deficits were a real problem for our country and now Republicans are doing the same thing. https://t.co/Fdi9riA3YK

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 22, 2018

– Record spending levels
– No wall/border security
– Obamacare intact
– Funds Planned Parenthood
– Sanctuary Cities funded
– Barely 24 hours to read a 2,300 page bill

This Omnibus is so far from what the forgotten men and women of America voted for. I will oppose it.

— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) March 22, 2018

We should have been on the House floor all year, in front of @cspan cameras, debating and amending spending bills. Instead, nearly all of Congress is waiting to see what omnibus bill emerges from the smoke filled room. Post offices are getting named… at least there’s that.

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) March 20, 2018

Rep. Jordan made another great point.

.@Jim_Jordan on omnibus bill: "How are you really gonna know what's in it if you got 24 hours from the time you get the completed version until you're supposed to vote on it? That's not the way to do things." @TeamCavuto pic.twitter.com/lD8Pbo11I9

— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 21, 2018

For real. HOW?! They don’t have any time to read and consider this. We’re talking THOUSANDS of pages of legalese mumbo jumbo. It’s not a stretch to say that lawmakers are voting on something they didn’t even read.

This is all President Trump has said about it:

Got $1.6 Billion to start Wall on Southern Border, rest will be forthcoming. Most importantly, got $700 Billion to rebuild our Military, $716 Billion next year…most ever. Had to waste money on Dem giveaways in order to take care of military pay increase and new equipment.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 22, 2018

So that’s where we’re at. To be continued…