The House will soon begin debating the omnibus spending bill — members are currently voting on the rule that will govern the process surrounding the bill.
Rep. Jim McGovern (D, Mass.) closed his argument for the rule by noting that the Democrats’ $410 billion omnibus spending bill freezes congressional pay. Therefore, he argues, ”If you vote no on the bill, or you vote no on the underlying bill, then you are voting to increase your pay.”
I suppose that’s true — unless you happen to be voting against the other $410 billion in spending or any of the 8,500 earmarks contained in the bill. Bear in mind that the congressional pay freeze, which everyone seems to favor, will amount to about one ten-thousandth of the spending in this bill.