The Defeat Of The Omnibus Spending Bill

The compromise worked out to maintain the current tax rates is a very mixed bag.  It is the product of compromise and thus will not make anyone totally happy.  Many Republicans who voted for it said that they did not like it, but were unwilling to risk the severe economic downturn that raising tax rates would have caused.  Many Democrats made the same statement.  The bill passed because it was probably less damaging than not passing it.

Meanwhile, in the middle of the tax bill debate, the omnibus spending bill was announced.  This $1.1 trillion piece of pork would have funded earmarks that were years old, funded the federal budget through 2011, and made sure Obamacare was properly funded during the coming year.  The omnibus spending bill would have successfully tied the hands of the incoming Congress in the area of cutting spending or defunding Obamacare.

Today's Daily Caller posted an article on what actually went on behind the scenes in the defeat of the omnibus spending bill.  It is a very interesting article, and I strongly suggest that you follow the link and read the entire article.

The article points out:

"[It was] 100 percent grassroots ... The American people took it down," said John Hart, spokesman for Sen. Tom Coburn,

Oklahoma Republican.Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , agreed, though with a far less triumphant tone.

 

"Today's maneuvers demonstrate that the House and Senate Republican leadership from here on out should be considered a wholly owned subsidiary of the Tea Party," Manley said.

 

I guess it's all a matter of perspective.