[detbuch]

Earmarks are not the problem in this bill. They comprise less than 1 percent of the spending. Until Congress abolishes earmarks, both parties will use them. As for the distribution between solely Dem and Repub that can actually be identified as such, it appears, so far, that the strictly Dem earmarks outnumber the Strictly GOP earmarks 2 to 1. But that is not the problem with this Omnibus bill. This is the budget that was supposed to be created some time ago so that it could be studied before approval. But here it is, massive, with no time, supposedly to study, therefore must, like the health care bill, be rammed through in order to find out what's in it, and without the proper time to debate. Since we've gone this far without a budget, lets let the new Congress make their own. In the meantime, any emergency expenditures can be handled by these oh so able and gifted legislators who are so obviously interested in what's best for the Nation.