[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 24, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H2610]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              $410 BILLION ``OMINOUS'' APPROPRIATIONS BILL

  (Mr. KIRK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, the House will vote on the $410 billion 
``ominous'' appropriations bill this week. The bill's text was finished 
weeks ago but kept secret from the American people, and now we know 
why. The legislation contains 9,000 earmarks to be approved, 
ironically, the same week as we had a fiscal responsibility summit.
  Last night, my staff and I stayed up to read this bill, longer than 
the stimulus. We found no less than 12 earmarks for clients of a 
lobbying firm that was raided by the FBI 3 months ago. The leaders of 
Paul Magliochetti and Associates will likely go to jail, but their 
earmarks from this criminal enterprise are in this legislation, 
totaling over $8 million of the taxpayers' money, all approved by the 
leaders of this House. This is irresponsible spending by a criminal 
enterprise to the detriment of this Congress.

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