Smith Votes Against Yet Another Massive Spending Bill

Press Release

Smith Votes Against Yet Another Massive Spending Bill

Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) today voted against a 2,500-page, $446.8 billion "omnibus" spending package.

The bill includes six of the seven fiscal year 2010 appropriations bills Congress has yet to pass: the Transportation and Housing bill ($67.9 billion - a 21 percent increase from last year), the Commerce, Justice, and Science bill ($64.4 billion - a 6.5 percent increase), the Financial Services bill ($24 billion - a 6.3 percent increase), the Labor, Health, and Human Services bill ($163. 5 billion - a 7.4 percent increase), the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill ($78 billion - a 7.1 percent increase), and the State and Foreign Operations bill ($48.8 billion - a 33 percent increase).

"At a time when Nebraska households are forced to watch every penny, it is irresponsible for Congress to go on a spending spree. This bill adds to our deficit and does so in the most irresponsible way," Smith said.

The bill, which includes more than 5,000 earmarks, lifts long-standing restrictions on Washington, D.C.'s use of funds for needle-exchange programs and prohibits the District from using local funds for abortion. The measure eliminates funding for abstinence-only education, instead creating a new $110 million program for "comprehensive sex education."

"Such out-of-control spending by this majority allows for the President to make good on his pledge to rein in wasteful spending. I urge him to veto it," Smith said.

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