For Immediate Release: December 10, 2009
Carter Blasts Democrats’ Vote to Jack Up Federal Spending by 25%
Speaker again violates House Rules to force bill with over 5,000 earmarks 
(WASHINGTON,DC) – The House of Representatives has spiraled into outright fiscalmadness, according to Republican Conference Secretary John Carter, whotoday helped lead futile efforts against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’sattempt to increase federal spending by an astounding 25% over 2008levels.  Pelosi again violated House Rules requiring all bills beallowed 72-hours of public access before a vote, in pushing H.R. 3288,the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2010, which passed by anarrow 221-202 partisan margin, with not a single Republican voting forthe measure.

“Jobs and the value of the dollar are reeling fromthe bone-crushing debt that Nancy Pelosi and the Obama Administrationhave already piled on,” says Carter.  “Obama’s ratings are in the tankas a result of this crazed spending spree, and yet that hasn’t slowedthem down one iota.  They have obviously decided that what the Americanpublic thinks about any issue just doesn’t matter.”

Cartersays legitimate government functions must be funded by Congress, butunder current crisis economic conditions the House should be voting toreduce the growth in spending or for an outright freeze, notdouble-digit increases.

The 1,085 page bill costs nearly halfa trillion dollars, totaling $446.8 billion. It increases spending anoverall 12.5% increase over FY2009, and an overall 24.4% over FY2008. The so-called “Omnibus” bill which provides annual funding for multiplefederal agencies, increased funding for State-Foreign Ops by 48.8%;Transportation and Housing by 39.1%; and Commerce-Justice-Science by24.3%.

“In the middle of the worst recession since 1983 withunemployment at 10%, and after having told our seniors there would bezero cost-of-living increases for social security recipients, HouseDemocrats just voted for a 25% cost-of-living increase for the federalbureaucracy. That is unacceptable, and I believe the voters are goingto make that case themselves next November.”

The bill is also adirect slap at conservative families and political opponents.  Itallows the DC government to fund abortions and needle exchanges usingpublic dollars, phases out the DC school voucher program, eliminatesfunding for abstinence education, and provides a nearly 20% increasefor international abortion organizations. The legislation stripslanguage guaranteeing free speech for talk radio, by encouraging theso-called Fairness Doctrine.   

It contains 5,224 earmarksworth a total of $3.8 billion, in direct violation of President Obama’spledge to rein in earmarks in spending bills. It was submitted for afloor vote only 36 hours after being introduced, instead of therequired 72-hour period allowing the media adequate time to report onthe measure and for voters to have time to contact their representativeto voice an opinion.

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John E. Stone
Communications Director
U.S.. Rep. John Carter (TX31)
Secretary, House Republican Conference
409 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Office - (202) 225-3864
FAX: (202) 225-5866