Pence Calls on President to Veto Democrats’ Omnibus Bill

Pence Calls on President to Veto Democrats’ Omnibus Bill

"This vote only emphasizes the need for President Obama to veto this massive new spending, and to uphold his pledge for fiscal discipline."

MARCH 10, 2009

Washington, DC- Today, U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, made the following statement in response to the Senate's passage of the Democrats' recent omnibus spending bill:

"Unfortunately, today a majority of the United States Senate voted against fiscal responsibility and decided to keep thousands of egregious earmarks in the Democrats' massive omnibus spending bill.  It's becoming clear that Democrats are on the side of more government and more taxes. Families across the country are tightening their budgets, and Washington should do the same. 

"President Obama said in his address before Congress that he was ready to go ‘line by line through the federal budget in order to eliminate wasteful and ineffective programs.'  The President should start with this omnibus bill, which includes roughly nine thousand earmarks, and billions of dollars in wasteful spending.  Recently, I and other Republican colleagues, called on President Obama to veto this irresponsible legislation.  So far, that call has gone unanswered.

"In fact, statements from Administration officials suggest the President will sign this bill, simply because ‘it's last year's business.'  That is not the leadership the American people want or deserve.  This vote strengthens the need for President Obama to veto this massive spending bill, freeze government spending, and uphold his pledge for fiscal discipline.  The time for fiscal responsibility is now, and the American people are watching."

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For additional information, contact:

The House Republican Conference Press Office at (202) 226-9000 or
Matt Lloyd (matt.lloyd@mail.house.gov)
Mary Vought (mary.vought@mail.house.gov)