109th Congress Punts Nine Spending Bills, May Be In Session Just Four More Days
109th Congress Punts Nine Spending Bills, May Be In Session Just Four More Days
Even though the Do-Nothing 109th Congress has passed just two out of 11 spending bills, it has decided to put off the remaining nine until the new year, “dumping almost a half-trillion dollars of spending bills on the incoming Democratic majority.”
The conservative leadership is already making excuses. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) said he is looking into “what is feasible and achievable.” Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) admitted that political considerations may be behind the inertia, stating, “I know a lot of folks just as soon not to see them done this year and let the Democrats struggle here next year.”
But passing all spending bills isn’t an impossible task, and it wouldn’t be unprecedented. As GovExec.com notes, it has been done before:
In 1994, when Republicans swept back to power in the House after four decades, there was no spending mess to clean up — all appropriations bills had been enacted by the Democrats before the end of the fiscal year. But they did convene a brief lame duck to consider the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade measure.
By skipping the spending bills, Roll Call notes that the House will be able to close up shop by Dec. 8, with the Senate staying a few days later to consider Robert Gates’s nomination. Congress is currently adjourned until Dec. 4, meaning the 109th Congress may be at work for just four days before breaking again.
Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date
51 Responses to “109th Congress Punts Nine Spending Bills, May Be In Session Just Four More Days”
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
Guess the funds for the bridge in Alaska will be cut, along with subsidies to the Oil Industry. Let’s see, the Democrats can cut funding to Halliburton, after all, the Iraqis need jobs and I’m sure they would be willing to do laundry for a lot less than $99.00/bag.
November 27th, 2006 at 5:11 pmWhy can’t we, the taxpayers, cease the payment of the Congressional equivalent of welfare to these losers and only reimburse them per diem? Why do they get to cash their salary checks for doing nothing, when working citizens like us who take a day off either use some sort of leave or take leave without pay? I don’t think I could detest this bunch of worthless bums anymore than I do today. Thank God they are on their way out. Let’s make sure we tell our new Congress that they are there to work, period.
November 27th, 2006 at 5:18 pmIs that the best job in the world or what, too bad the gravy train is coming to an end.
These GOPers are real peices of work. They are doing what they are best at, avoiding responsibility, passing the buck, setting up others for the blame.
November 27th, 2006 at 5:20 pmSantorum looks like a Moron in that photo. Wait, he is a moron.
November 27th, 2006 at 5:20 pmSo now they can call the Dems tax and spend before they even take control of congress!
November 27th, 2006 at 5:21 pmGuess all the real thugs in congress are getting worried about the forthcoming investigations and subpoenas now the the dems will run things. Let the subpoenas fly!! They’re all like rats jumping a stinking, sinking ship!! Jokes, all of them.
November 27th, 2006 at 5:26 pmSantorum is a robotic moron and looks twisted and demented in this photo. It’s priceless and so like him. Glad that criminal got the boot! Presidential material, my butt! More like jail material.
November 27th, 2006 at 5:27 pmHow about this. If I don’t work, I don’t get paid. It is that simple. Same thing with these Repugnzis. NO WORK…NO PAY. I don’t give a damn if your wives and your kids have to go on welfare. You scum have done nothing but give yourselves vacations. So screw you. If you don’t want to do the people’s work in the people’s house you don’t get paid.
November 27th, 2006 at 5:28 pmNow that we’ve seen the nazi brothers in theirs red ties, I hope they like the twinzie looks of orange jumpsuits.
November 27th, 2006 at 5:28 pmSantorum is on his way to meet his boyfriend. Now that he is out of office, his male communication assistant will be out of a job. Bet this assistant will be writing a juicy book.
November 27th, 2006 at 5:30 pmMore “do nothing”. This is the congress that has worked less days (I believe) than any other. We cannot be surprised by their cut and run tactics.
November 27th, 2006 at 5:30 pmJust as well the current Congress doesn’t do any more damage this year. Don’t let the door hit you on the butt on the way out.
November 27th, 2006 at 5:33 pmWell, the party that controls the purse is the party that controls where the money will be spent . The Democrats now have an opportunity to do an “intervention” on Bush’s and the other Repubs spending spree of the last 6 years. This includes making changes to the 9 left over spending bills for 2006. Let’s see, time to take out the black marker and start deleting… let’s start with Halliburton and that bridge to Alaska.
November 27th, 2006 at 5:34 pmIt’s more like: “I’m getting the hell out of here before this place gets attacked.”
November 27th, 2006 at 5:35 pmI don’t ever want to hear another republican boast about fiscal responsibility again.
November 27th, 2006 at 5:36 pmIs there a way we can really screw them for doing this?
November 27th, 2006 at 5:54 pm#16 - Hellinabucket - me, too. I couldn’t agree more. Our economy has had enough of those “borrow and spend” Republicans.
November 27th, 2006 at 5:55 pmThis is good news! I would have expected these clowns to pass some truely hideous spending bills on their way out. The fact that they didn’t indicates they either are relieved to be out of power, or they simply couldn’t be bothered to be forced to agree with each other. Either way Dems win.
November 27th, 2006 at 5:56 pmSen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) admitted that political considerations may be behind the inertia, stating, “I know a lot of folks just as soon not to see them done this year and let the Democrats struggle here next year.â€
I cannot wait to vote against him in the next election. I was very disappointed that he wasn’t up for re-election this year…
November 27th, 2006 at 5:59 pmThe Repulsivcan-led Congress wanted to avoid at all costs (pardon the pun) the fact that there is no money to spend……….
November 27th, 2006 at 6:05 pmA good tit-fot-tat would be the blocking of the Robert Gates nomination… not that he actually deserves it anyway. Time to tighten the belt, Rethuglicans, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
November 27th, 2006 at 6:08 pmIt’s clear that the repubs know that spending cuts have to be made and they have shown the inability to “just say no” to any bill with dollars attached to it. They must think that cutting services, etc. to anyone will cost the dems votes in 2008 as the repubs will tout their willingness to reinstate cuts if elected. Hopefully the Dems know how to package these their spending plans with an eye toward fiscal responsiblity and a balanced budget.
November 27th, 2006 at 6:15 pmFrankly, I hope the Republicans bug out early. They’ve done enough damage the last 12, and especially the last 6 years. We need to let our representatives and senators know that we expect them to work a FULL WEEK in the 110th Congress, and hence forward…not this 2.5 days bullshit.
November 27th, 2006 at 6:17 pmsometimes i feel better cleaning up a mess knowing i’ll do it correctly…
November 27th, 2006 at 6:22 pmso, i guess it’s good the dems will get to do the same…
but, it will put a dent in their own plans, there’s just not enough hours in that ‘first 100 hours’ plan…
oops, Huffington, not Raw Story.
:(
November 27th, 2006 at 6:23 pmThese people have no shame - squandering the tax payers money on their do nothing salaries. Good riddance!
November 27th, 2006 at 6:25 pmThis certainly doesn’t help the Dems any. Not only will it take up their time, but it’s money spent the Reps will surely criticize them for down the road. They’ll be able to point to 2007 for its record spending under the Dems. And of course the truth doesn’t matter when there’s spin spin spin!
November 27th, 2006 at 6:26 pmThe worthless GOPers are such a bunch of turkeys (with apologies to our feathered friends that we just had for dinner…). Maybe the new Congress could have their wages reduced to the federal minimum wage level and then they could collect achievement incentives with additional funds paid for legislation passed with an additional ten thousand dollar bonus for each of the absurd Bush tax cuts for the obscenely rich that are recinded in 2007…
Also, maybe it’s time to end free health care and free health insurance for Senators and Congresspersons until they enact universal health care and universal health insurance for all Americans. If we stop pouring hundreds of billions of dollars down the ratholes in Afghanistan and Iraq, we could probably pay for health care for all Americans. Certainly, if we eliminate all the billions wasted in the endless bureaucracies of the HMOs, health insurance companies, and the governmental agencies involved now, we would probably find that universal health insurance would be far cheaper than the present system which encourages and rewards corporate greed.
November 27th, 2006 at 6:35 pmCheers.
Another win for the Constitution and blow for the zealous neocons (from AMERICAblog):
Supreme Court upholds Maine law that prevents vouchers for religious schools
by Joe in DC - 11/27/2006 11:05:00 AM
Big loss today for theocrats and politicians like George and Jeb Bush who are trying to undermine public education in America. The Supreme Court refused to hear their case against a Maine law that prevents public funding for religious schools:
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to take up the issue of school choice in Maine, where a state law bars the use of public funds to send students to private religious schools.
The case could have provided a platform for a court battle over school choice and the separation of church and state.
In Maine, school districts in 145 small towns with no high schools offer tuition for 17,000 students to attend high schools of their choice, public or private, in-state or out-of-state. But religious schools are no longer on the list.
Asking the court to take the case, a conservative group, the Institute for Justice, is representing eight Maine families who would receive public tuition funds but for the fact that their children attend religious schools.
It’s interesting how all these anti-tax types always want tax dollars for their own pet projects like vouchers. At least for today, the separation of church and state was able to survive yet another attack.
November 27th, 2006 at 6:37 pmthey may as well quit… why start trying to work NOW? we’ve had quite enough of their “leadership”
November 27th, 2006 at 6:44 pmGood. As little damage as possible.
November 27th, 2006 at 7:00 pmThat punt was shanked for a net distance of -3 yards. Heckuva job not screwing anything else up 109thie
November 27th, 2006 at 7:32 pmGates was “nearly indicted” for fixing intel during IranContra and came within a hair’s breadth of going to jail for it. THIS is the man we want to be our next Sec’y of Defense.
Also, look into the Board of Directros of the illustrious VoteHere - yes, the ones who raised more than Diebold, ES &S, and Sequoia combined to help ram through the HAVA Act which has become one of the tools of corruption - posturing as a boon to the handicapped (and whose payroll handicapped organizations were put on to request it)…this bill was nothing more than a “means to an end”….it was the “means to stealing our elections” and now we can clearly see how it was deviously orchestrated by the aged neocons and present neocons….amazing lengths thugs go to to achieve their plots!
Yes, none other than Robert Gates assisted with mandating the use of Electronic Voting Machines - in order to destroy that aspect of our democracy. Of course, he didn’t do it alone….there was the now-convicted-criminal accomplice Bob Ney who sits in jail….and good old Steney Hoyer, the dem who just won over John Murtha….ahem! Thick as thieves?? Perhaps….
Hoyer may be one of the first dems to get the book once investigations are brought into the picture during the nomination hearings on Robert Gates. Hang onto your seats folks….as one blogger above said it very aptly: It’s gonna be a very bumpy ride. I foresee so much dirt coming out on the “Baker Boys” (Baker and Gates) that his nomination will either be withdrawn or blocked. It may be the first large coup by the new congress when they convene. Stay tuned….it’s going to get very, very interesting.
November 27th, 2006 at 7:34 pmveritas - I got a whole library of books I ‘d gladly donate to a book throwing party for these clowns!
November 27th, 2006 at 8:08 pmNancy Pelosi better come out swinging. Her olive branch is wilting rapidly. The rabid male republican image is at stake. They don’t like prisoners (as we will see).
November 27th, 2006 at 8:11 pmDems better stand fast for “The Lady”.
Mom’s are understanding but command respect. And don’t forget it!
How can this remnant do-evil Congress being in session only four more days NOT be a good thing? I would be happy if they left town now, and only came back when the new session convenes in January. I would feel safer. America would BE safer.
November 27th, 2006 at 8:45 pmwhat $150,000 a year and 500 of those crooks…
what 75 million dollars pay, probably more like
100 million for that kind of service.
and i’m sure the 1/2 trillion dollars, most of it
will be wasted, also.
enough to make YOU PUKE :(
November 27th, 2006 at 10:12 pmI would like to see all of them pay back their raises for the last 6 year’s, and the next congress work 5 day’s a week…..If all of them worked 24/7 we might get our money’s worth….Blessings
November 27th, 2006 at 10:15 pmWhat complete and utter losers. They have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were not concerned with the nation, only themselves. Government needs to function whether they were voted out or not. It needs to continue. So these guys stamp their feet because the people voted against them. I’d be embarrassed to be in the same room with those losers.
November 27th, 2006 at 11:49 pmThe picture really says it all. What a couple of stuffed shirts…..not all hot air, but also stuffed with lobbyist’s bills and stock options, I’m afraid.
They should really be a Vaudeville comedy duo. Frist magically diagnoses audience member’s ailments from the stage, while Santorum pray’s sanctimoniously and picks the audience’s pockets.
They could also play in a Broadway production of “Huckleberry Fin” - - OK, you have already guessed - “the Duke and the Dauphin”.
November 28th, 2006 at 12:13 amI would pay to see them in Huck Finn, just to see them tarred and feathered as they deserve.
November 28th, 2006 at 12:23 amas always you can count on the republicans, that is to not be counted on.
November 28th, 2006 at 8:41 amAgain, we see the do-nothing, lazy-a$$ Republican Congress. Their dedication to the American people seems to stop as soon as they are required to do real work. No wonder these elitists can’t find jobs in the real world.
November 28th, 2006 at 9:10 amsounds like damage control to me–and that’s just fine with me–hell, they can’t be TRUSTED with anything.
November 28th, 2006 at 12:25 pmWait till Democratic Congressman Charles B. Rangel gets the draft started up again.
November 28th, 2006 at 5:49 pmProbably 800 billion per year (salaries, operating costs, overhead) for all eligible 18-21 year old men and women.
That is just from one Democratic Congressman for one year.
Flaco, are you sarcastic or stupid?
November 28th, 2006 at 9:43 pmWhat the heck is wrong with Santorum’s neck in that picture? He looks like he is literally slipping or doing a funky walk.
Wait! Maybe he just likes John Cleese’s silly walks.
November 28th, 2006 at 10:15 pmFlaco, are you sarcastic or stupid?
Comment by JPark
You should ask Congressman Charles B. Rangel that.
November 29th, 2006 at 10:51 am[…] It’s been a few days or so since I googled our Congressman, ahem, Mr. Secretary. He was recently elected as the Secretary of the GOP caucus in the house, he had no opponent. The picture above came form this article, Republicans Want Vote on Abortion Bill, about what the 109th Congress intends to do before the GOP is the minority. Nope, they’re not going to finish the budget bills - 9 of 11 still pending - they’re going to pander to their base. The measure is tentatively on House GOP leaders’ list of bills to be considered in a lame-duck session before Democrats assume control of Congress. It has no chance of passing the Senate during the waning days of Republican control. But, with Democrats ascending to agenda-setting roles, passage isn’t the point, said one conservative leader. […]
December 1st, 2006 at 2:09 pm[…] This might have some short-term drawbacks (The Democrats don’t want your district to get those much-needed highway improvements) but, overall, I believe Kevin’s right. This wouldn’t be a problem for Republicans if they had actually, you know, finished this year’s business. Instead, they’re leaving the spending bills to the Democrats, trying to slow down the incoming majority party when January rolls around. […]
December 12th, 2006 at 4:27 pmBoobs Unreal Boobs Boobies
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
April 7th, 2008 at 8:38 pm