Quick Omnibus Budget Update

Just keeping you up to date on the most recent bloated, pork-filled, irresponsible Democrat spending bill:

The Senate is getting closer to reach an shameful agreement on the omnibus bill. Two democrats — Robert Menendez (D., N.J.) and Bill Nelson (D., Fla.) — who were opposed to the measure until now informed Reid of their support.

In addition, yesterday, the Senate rejected four Republican bids to change the omnibus bill. According to Congressional Quarterly:

A 32-63 vote went against an amendment from John McCain, R-Ariz., to bar any funds in the bill from being used to pay for $7.7 billion in earmarks contained in a report accompanying the bill. Two proposals from Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., were defeated. An amendment to require a report on countersmuggling efforts in Gaza fell 34-61, and a bid to require that the State Department certify that funds made available for reconstruction efforts in Gaza would not be diverted to Hamas or entities controlled by Hamas was rejected 39-56. Michael B. Enzi, R-Wyo., saw his proposal to prevent changes in certain funding formulas for anti-AIDS programs rejected 42-53. Among the amendments slated for Tuesday votes were a John Ensign, R-Nev., proposal to protect funds for the District of Columbia school voucher program after the 2009-10 school year, and a John Cornyn, R-Texas, amendment to prohibit state attorneys general who hire outside legal experts and witnesses in civil actions from paying them through a contingency fee agreement where they would receive a share of any award or settlement.

Today brings more fights for the Republicans as the Senate prepares to vote on more amendments including David Vitter's (R., La.) amendment forcing lawmakers to affirmatively vote themselves an annual pay increase, repealing a provision of current law that automatically raises congressional pay each year. Obviously, voting against the measure would make these senators look bad — assuming that they care about what the public thinks of them — and approving the measure would send the bill back to the House.
 
We can only hope at this point. Stay put.

Michelle Malkin fills in some more details:

GOP Sen. David Vitter is causing Senate Democrats heartburn. Good.

He's been pushing an amendment to the $410 billion omni-pork bill that would repeal the current law allowing automatic pay raises for Congress.

Doesn't look so good for lawmakers to be enjoying the automatic perk during an economic downturn. Vitter's proposal: How about a little shared sacrifice, fellas?

From Vitter's office:

"Congress has been receiving pay increases most years under a formula set into law 20 years ago," said Vitter. "At a time when so many Americans are losing their jobs and struggling to pay their mortgages, these raises just aren't right. Most Americans don't have a formula at their job that gives them automatic pay raises, and Congress shouldn't either."

The amendment would repeal the provision of law that set in place automatic raises for Members of Congress. The increase that went into effect for this year amounts to an additional $4,700 per year.

"Last year in Louisiana, the state legislature proposed a raise for its members, and Louisianans were rightfully outraged. I've heard from many constituents who have called to express their anger over automatic raises for Congress as well," Vitter said. "With our economy in such a state of distress, it's just not appropriate for Congress to continue to receive theses automatic pay raises. My amendment would require Congress to vote to approve any future pay increases."

Vitter's amendment is similar to a stand-alone bill he introduced at the beginning of the 111th Congress that also seeks to achieve the same goal – ending automatic pay raises.

The quandary via CQ:

The upcoming vote on Vitter's amendment is problematic for supporters of the underlying spending measure. A vote against the amendment could put a senator in the politically perilous position of defending automatic pay increases for lawmakers at a difficult economic time for nearly all Americans. If the amendment is adopted, it could prove to be a poison pill, eroding support in both chambers for the yearlong spending measure, and forcing a House-Senate conference.

Harry Reid's ploy is to offer a separate, stand-alone bill to repeal the robo-pay raises — to give Senate Dems cover. You can count on that separate bill never making it onto the Senate floor.

Stay tuned…

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Make your voice heard: 202-224-3121.

Go ahead - give your Senators a call.  I think the debate is finishing up today, but I'm not certain about that.  In any case, it's never a bad thing to share your opinions with the people who supposedly represent you.

There's my two cents.