Lawmakers should not vote for the $1.2 trillion spending bill released in the dead of the night, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) said on Thursday, warning that members of Congress have not even had the proper time to review it.
“Tell your senators: don’t vote for a spending bill they’ve had no chance to review, let alone debate or amend,” Lee warned on Thursday:
Tell your senators: don’t vote for a spending bill they’ve had no chance to review, let alone debate or amend.
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) March 21, 2024
If you are
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) March 21, 2024
(1) a member of Congress,
(2) planning to vote for the yet-unseen omnibus spending bill without giving yourself, colleagues, and voters adequate time to read, debate, and amend it, then
(3) you’re part of the problem
Congress released the text of the 1,000+ page bill overnight, which has not come without scrutiny. Politico described the spending bill as a “conclusive defeat for House conservatives,” as it reportedly includes $1 billion for Pentagon climate change initiatives and $200 million for a new FBI headquarters.
Democrats are touting that climate change initiative as one of their top lines, as Appropriations Committee Democrats say the bill “includes a $1 billion increase above 2023 for climate and energy resiliency.” Democrats also say the measure “protects women’s rights by preserving the Department’s travel policy to ensure service members and their families can access reproductive healthcare,” which is often leftist speak for abortions.
The bill, however, also restricts funding of the controversial U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA):
Wake up, another massive spending bill dropped while you were sleeping.
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) March 21, 2024
1,012 pages that spend $1.2 TRILLION of taxpayer dollars released by the Swamp at 2:30 in the morning. pic.twitter.com/a8T2vEAjeX
The full text — all 1,012 pages — can be found here.
Lawmakers release the $1.2 trillion spending bill less than two days before the deadline. This will fund the remaining ~70% of the government. Unclear Congress can pass it by the tomorrow at midnight deadline or if there’ll be a brief shutdown.
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) March 21, 2024
TEXT: https://t.co/TgEnwWSOc9
While House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said the measure contains “substantial cuts to wasteful agencies and programs while strengthening border security and national defense,” many lawmakers are reminding the general public that the text of the bill was released on extremely short notice. The deadline for the government shutdown is Friday, and many other Republican lawmakers have made it clear they do not support it.
“It is total lack of backbone, total lack of leadership and a total failure by Republican leadership,” Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) reportedly said on Steve Bannon’s War Room.
“I don’t even have words for any Republican that votes for this bill. I promise you I will not be going out and supporting any Republican who votes for this bill for any position, ever again,” he reportedly said:
Chip Roy on Bannon's War Room on the spending package:
— Reese Gorman (@reesejgorman) March 21, 2024
"It is total lack of backbone, total lack of leadership and a total failure by Republican leadership. ... I don't even have words for any Republican that votes for this bill. I promise you I will not be going out and…
Every Republican who votes for this omnibus spending bill is voting for those gangs, voting for those murderers and rapists, voting for the surrender of American sovereignty. https://t.co/uvL0ySBZ3I
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) March 21, 2024
“2am trillion dollar spending bills which increase inflation and fund the invasion are not acceptable,” Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) said:
2am trillion dollar spending bills which increase inflation and fund the invasion are not acceptable.
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) March 21, 2024
“At 2:32 am—when Americans were sleeping—the Swamp released its second half of the omnibus. 1,012 pages that spend $1.2 TRILLION of taxpayer dollars on disastrous policies,” Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) said.
“The House is still expected to vote on this monstrosity TOMORROW MORNING. Washington is beyond broken,” he added:
At 2:32 am—when Americans were sleeping—the Swamp released its second half of the omnibus.
— Rep. Andrew Clyde (@Rep_Clyde) March 21, 2024
1,012 pages that spend $1.2 TRILLION of taxpayer dollars on disastrous policies.
The House is still expected to vote on this monstrosity TOMORROW MORNING.
Washington is beyond broken. pic.twitter.com/AlZCDYWBKK
“Remind me why even though GOP has majority in the House and filibuster-proof minority in the Senate, the power of the purse sits idly by unused and the debt continues to pile higher and higher?” Sen Rand Paul (R-KY) remarked:
Remind me why even though GOP has majority in the House and filibuster-proof minority in the Senate, the power of the purse sits idly by unused and the debt continues to pile higher and higher? https://t.co/1HXBV6psmy
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 21, 2024