GOP Warns Democrats Against Lame-Duck Spending Spree
Democrats haven’t yet outlined a plan for how to deal with unfinished spending bills, and Republicans are warning them not to go on one last spending spree.
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.), the ranking member on the Appropriations Committee, wrote a letter to Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) warning against passing a $1.1 trillion year-end omnibus bill in the lame-duck session.
Republicans would like to trim the package by $100 billion to bring spending to 2008 levels.
“Any effort by you or the present Democrat leadership to move a budget-busting omnibus spending measure will be met with my unequivocal opposition,” Lewis said.
An omnibus would be a “classic illustration … of unmanaged, reckless spending pushed through in a monumental collapse of regular order,” Lewis said.
Lewis, who is seeking a term limits waiver from GOP leadership so he can return as chairman of Appropriations, said Democrats appeared to begin negotiations between the House and Senate on an omnibus in October, but he directed his staff not to engage.
Ellis Brachman, spokesman for Obey, declined to comment.