Sen. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.) is ready to battle over the omnibus spending bill. According to Roll Call, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) has taken notice:
Although Reid had initially intended to begin work on an omnibus spending bill after the tax vote, he is now pushing it off until late Thursday in the face of stiff GOP opposition. Republicans have threatened to filibuster the omnibus, and DeMint said Tuesday that he would force a reading of the bill on the floor, a process that could take 60 to 70 hours, a Reid aide said.
Reid could begin debate on the omnibus bill before Thursday, because Senate rules allow debate on the arms reduction treaty with Russia and the omnibus to occur simultaneously.
However, by delaying the start of the omnibus debate until late Thursday, Reid appears to be trying to box Republican opponents into either voting for the measure Saturday, when the current continuing resolution funding the government will expire, or shut down the government by filibustering the bill.
DeMint warned National Review Online on Monday about Reid’s potential maneuver. “Sounds like they want to dual-track [the START treaty] with the terrible omnibus bill,” he said. “I’m really concerned . . . . I’m not going to be sleeping very well this week.”
Wesley Denton, a DeMint spokesman, tells NRO that despite pressure from Reid, the South Carolinian plans to read aloud the omnibus bill, for as long as it takes. He will point out that the Senate could easily pass a continuing resolution sans pork-laden projects.
“This 2,000-page bill is so packed with pork and objectionable legislative items it could take weeks until we know the policy implications, but Reid wants to ram it through in a few days,” Denton says. “This stampede of spending and bad policy is exactly what voters rejected in November. Senator DeMint will continue working with Republican colleagues to expose the bill’s waste and he’ll fight to stop the rush to pass it on the Senate floor.”
Raise the Palmetto!!!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThey should shut the government down if that's what it takes. This must be stopped.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJust shut the whole darn government down this minute, if that's what it takes to get Reid and Pelosi to finally stand down.
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Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Because the Only Good Progressive is a Failed Progressive"
I'm sure glad "Jacksonian Democrat" Jim Webb and "Conservative Democrat" Ben Nelson are standing tall against this.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis is where we need a President. I think we expose the extreme ugliness of what Reid is proposing and call upon Obama to support a clean bill. Either he does, and lays some groundwork for the new Congress, or he exposes himself to all as completely insincere fiscally and indifferent to the will of the people.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDeMint is right. The Republicans should fund only that which is absolutely necessary to continue critical government operations. START should be delayed until next session. It is probably time to replace McConnell as the republican leader in the senate.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGood. Fight on!
First Rule of DeMint Fight Club, Talk about DeMint Fight Club.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAs someone who was a government employee, and a federal contractor, I can honestly say that from Dec 17th until Jan 4th...nobody will be missed. The Government practically shuts down for the 2.5-3 weeks of "the holidays". Organizations go to "min staffing", everyone takes their remaining use-or-lose vacation for the year, nothing gets done.
Am I the only person who remembers the blizzards that shut down D.C...and NOBODY CARED? The GOP should be willing and able to have this fight. It isn't 1994.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHow in the name of Sam Hill the Republicans have the reputations of being the party of secrecy and dirty dealing is beyond me. 2500 pages?? Without reading it, without review, zero accountability. And the health care bill was worse than this, as far as a lack of accountability goes. Amazing.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTRANSPARENCY. Many Americans voted for Obama because he rallied for government transparency. THE OMNIBUS BILL GOES AGAINST HIS PROMISE OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. This bill holds trillions of dollars and the future of our prosperity. There is a remarkable lack of clarity in regards to the enmeshed structure of economic activity in this legislation. The true results and unfortunate consequences of this misguided bill will disrupt prosperity and reflect poor choices on behalf of the democrats.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAs a South Carolina voter, I cast my ballot for Senator DeMint and am sure glad I did. I'm glad that he's calling Harry Reid and his ilk regarding this rubbish legislation. I hope he stalls it as long as necessary because the only reason Reid is rushing things is so he can try to pass the amnesty 'Dream' (for criminals) Act and try to repeal DADT - both issues that should be shelved in this Congress. I have never seen a lame duck Congress as irresponsible and as disrespectful to the will of the voters as this one.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRead the bill on the Senate floor? Out lout? Videotaped for the entire world to see and hear. If that’s what it takes to get our legislatures to actually read the bills they are voting on then I’m all for it.
The 111th Congress was been a sham and a shame. Very little of what they “accomplished” will stand the test of time or the electorate come 2012. Amazing how the Democrats suddenly become deficit hawks when talking about “tax cut extensions” then without skipping a beat load up necessary legislation with pork and most importantly, funding for Obamacare.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRepublicans need to remember that nothing done in the 111th can’t be undone in the 112th or the 113th if necessary. I say pass the tax cut compromise AS IS then “shut it down”!!
We need a lot more senators like Jim DeMint.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseShut it down. Stop this madness.
By "pork", he means "public money that does not go to my campaign contributors".
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNice job, Senator DeMint. I hope you can kill that thing.
If it gets passed and President Obama signs it, he should take part of the "credit," as well.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSen. Demint give them hades till the 111th. congress ceases to be.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhy is this man not running for President?
He sounds like someone I could actually vote FOR. The last time I did that was 1984. I'm tired of voting for the lesser of two evils.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDeMint recently stated that he has no interest in running for President. I too would like to see him or Rep. Steve King run but I doubt now that either man will.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou gotta love Senator DeMint. Really, would it hurt to shut government down for a couple of weeks? I doubt it, in fact it would be good! Stop this runaway lame duck congress in it's tracks! We Patriots would love them for shutting it down.
Hey, if they shut down on Saturday I guess that would put off the rest of the socialist bills, like the Start Treaty and the Dream Act. I agree - Shut her down!
If I were a Senator and Harry Reid made me stay through Christmas...there would be no better way to get me to NEVER vote for his bills. I would rot first!
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