[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 194 (Tuesday, December 18, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H16650]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H16650]]
                        THE OMINOUS OMNIBUS BILL

  (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PENCE. At 3,500 pages, 34 pounds, members of the minority had 
roughly 1 day to review its contents. Mr. Speaker, here comes the bus. 
But the American people don't want this Congress to get on. Last night, 
the House passed a massive omnibus spending bill that gives deafening 
evidence that this government is broken. This budget process is broken.
  I want to commend men and women of good will in this Congress who 
improved this bill along the margins, but $515 billion without a penny 
for Iraq is wrong and evidence that the budget process is broken. $515 
billion with $10 billion in budget gimmicks and hundreds of unexamined 
earmarks gives evidence that this budget process is broken.
  President Reagan said it 20 years ago from this podium. He said: 
``The budget process is broken down; it needs a drastic overhaul. With 
each ensuing year, the spectacle before the American people is the same 
as it was this Christmas.'' He added: ``Budget deadlines delayed or 
missed completely, hundreds of billions worth of spending packed into 
one bill, and a Federal Government on the brink of default.''
  The more things change in Congress, the more they stay the same. Say 
``no'' to the ominous omnibus bill.

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