Omnibus Details are Destructive

In the final days of the Lame Duck session, Democrats and some Republicans have come to an agreement on a year-long omnibus spending bill for the remainder of FY2023. While those Republicans are touting their “wins,” they are buried underneath the nearly $1.7 trillion price tag and the typical leftist policies that will be continued next year. Despite conservatives’ calls for a short-term continuing resolution (CR) that would allow the new Congress (with the House majority switching to Republicans) to make these decisions, the Leaders of both parties are pushing to finish up this week, as early as tomorrow. 

Proponents of this big spending behemoth are touting certain items in the bill such as supplemental aid for Ukraine, natural disaster funding, a ten percent increase in defense spending, a delay in Medicare cuts, and even a TikTok ban on government devices. However, they are leaving the sinister details out. Representative Dan Bishop (R-NC) has uncovered several eyebrow-raising policies. Democrats have included: 

• $575 million goes toward “family planning” in areas where population growth “threatens biodiversity.” 
• A prohibition on border security funding for the USA while funding other countries’ borders. 
• Over three thousand earmarks totaling almost $10 BILLION. 
• “Congratulatory” earmarks include a building named after Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), two programs for Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and a “Michelle Obama Trail.” 
• Ridiculous programs continue to be funded like “anti-racist training,” an LGBTQ+ museum in New York City, and services for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. 
• Promotion of gender programs in Pakistan and $200 million for a Gender Equity Fund. 
• Workforce development programs and supportive services for Transgender and Gender nonconforming and Intersex (TGI) immigrant women in Los Angeles.
• Almost doubles H2-B immigrant visas (low-skilled workers) which opens the door for more illegal overstays. 
• $286 million to the Title X program which funds Planned Parenthood. 

This just scratches the surface of what is in the 4,155-page bill. Yet, 21 Republicans already voted to advance the bill in the Senate and if it passes to the House, Speaker Pelosi plans to pass it in a day. 

House Freedom Caucus members are rightfully angry over the content and process of this bill, but this isn’t the first time they have sounded the alarm. Seven of those members want to make sure this doesn’t happen when Republicans gain back the majority. They recently sent a letter to their colleagues urging them to select leadership that will stay true to conservative values and will conduct business in a more structured and transparent way. They laid out seven principles that Republican leadership must ensure:

• Trust and accountability. 
• Bills that are focused, amendable, and readable. They have asked that final legislation be provided 72 hours before a passage vote, single subject bills with germane amendments, and genuine debate on these bills. 
• No leadership involvement in primaries. With the cash flow and influence that leadership has, an early endorsement can prevent other candidates from having an equal playing field. 
• Conservative representation on committees and among chairs. 
• A firm plan to end limitless spending. 
• Using “must-pass” legislation to check on the Biden administration. 
• Form a “Church Commission”-style committee to target weaponized government. This committee would investigate government activities that have stripped the freedoms from Americans based on certain political agendas. 

You can read the details of the letter here.

Eagle Forum echoes the House Freedom Caucus’s requests to ensure order and conservative policies. Because the omnibus is so dangerous to our nation, we will score against the bill to hold our representatives and senators accountable. You can make your voice heard by contacting them to ask them to vote “no” when it goes to a floor vote.