Democrats Move Leftover Spending Measure: Special Projects Stripped Under Earmarks Ban

[Demeter]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/30/AR2007013001705.html?referrer=email


Democrats Move Leftover Spending Measure
Special Projects Stripped Under Earmarks Ban

By Lyndsey Layton
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 31, 2007; A04



House and Senate Democratic leaders agreed yesterday to a $463 billion spending plan for the remainder of the fiscal year that would freeze many federal agencies at 2006 levels but include more money for veterans' health, education, scientific research, HIV programs and public parks, among other things.

In an unusual move, the congressional leaders stripped the spending bill of all earmarks, or narrow, special-interest provisions. The measure had to be cobbled together now because Congress did not finish its work last year and failed to pass nine of 11 spending bills.

Four months into the current fiscal year, the federal government has been running on a temporary budget that is set to expire Feb. 15. The House is scheduled to vote on the spending package today, while the Senate will take it up in the coming weeks...Republicans grumbled about the fact that Democrats in the House will not allow amendments to the budget and said the party in power plans to ram through a spending bill without committee hearings or meaningful debate. Democrats said that they have no choice, because the previous Congress left the budget process in such disarray that they are under great pressure to quickly pass a spending bill for the remaining eight months.

By declaring a one-time moratorium on earmarks, the Democratic leaders are granting the Bush administration more leeway in spending. The Army Corps of Engineers construction budget, for instance, typically outlines funding for specific projects. But under the no-earmarks pledge, Obey and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) decided that Congress cannot spell out spending, so they opted to give a lump sum of $2.3 billion to the Army Corps -- about $38 million less than it received in 2006 -- and to allow the agency to decide which projects deserve the money.

"They really delivered on their promise to wipe out earmarks," said Richard Kogan, a federal budget expert at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.....

Before adjourning last year, Congress ratified money for defense and homeland security but left the rest of the federal budget -- including Social Security, Medicare, veterans programs, education and transportation -- in limbo. Most of the government has been operating at 2006 levels through a series of stopgap measures.

Staff writer Mary Beth Sheridan contributed to this report.

[creeksneakers2]

1. nominated n/t

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

2. Republicans turn out propaganda, Democrats govern

One more reason we aren't impeaching the president just yet...

So much shit to shovel. Was there an elephant in the house?

[Morgana LaFey]

3. ONE TIME moratorium?

If that's the case, fie on them. That's horrible. We didn't elect them to do things just like the Republicans did.

[MadMaddie]

4. They aren't doing it at midnight like the Republicans were

and the things they did pass were worthy.