House Passes $410 Billion Spending Bill Filled With Earmarks On The Heels Of The $787 Billion Non-Stimulus Package

The Associated Press reports:

"The Democratic-controlled House approved $410 billion legislation Wednesday that boosted domestic programs, bristled with earmarks and chipped away at policies left behind by the Bush administration. The vote was 245-178, largely along party lines. Republicans assailed the measure as too costly — particularly on the heels of a $787 billion stimulus bill that President Barack Obama signed last week... From the GOP side, Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas said the legislation was 'going to grow the government 8.3 percent ... but the family budget which has to pay for the federal budget only grew at 1.3 percent last year.' The debate occurred one day after Obama told Congress in a prime time television address that he intends to cut deficits in half over the next four years, and one day before he submits tax and spending plans for the coming year. Given the extraordinary costs of the financial industry bailout and the stimulus, the White House projects this year's budget shortfall will be $1.5 trillion, triple the previous record of $455 billion in 2008."

Do you understand this? This comes on the heels of the stimulus package, and the day before Obama submits more very costly tax and spend plans for the current year. If you listened to Obama's speech to Congress then you are well aware that Obama intends for a lot more spending. The Democrats have no control, they are acting drunk with power, and spending unprecedented amounts of money back-to-back with no concern for the future. They are burdening the next generation with unimaginable debt. America cannot afford four to eight years of reckless abandon when it comes to basic fiscal responsibility. We are on the road to becoming a suburb of France, marching toward the model of the failed welfare states. Along with this model will come skyrocketing taxes to fund every Democrat pipe dream and special interest. We're seeing this process start before our very eyes, and it's happening at an alarming pace.

The Democrats have no shame. The AP reports on the excessive earmarks and wasteful spending in this House bill. The AP writes that "lawmakers claimed billions in federal funds for pet projects — a total of 8,570 earmarks at a cost of $7.7 billion, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense... Among the earmarks was one sponsored by Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., who secured $200,000 for a 'tattoo removal violence outreach program' in Los Angeles... Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., said the bill included at least a dozen earmarks for clients of PMA Group, a lobbying company now at the center of a federal corruption investigation. 'It's simply not responsible to allow a soon-to-be-criminally indicted lobbying firm to win funding, all borrowed, in this bill,' he said."

I guess House Democrats missed Obama's "Fiscal Responsibility Summit." The Democrats embody the very definition of fiscal irresponsibility in action.

Here is how the great cartoonist for Investors Business Daily Michael Ramirez puts it:

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