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.GOP opponents of omnibus secured billions in funding for 'pet projects' to districts
The bill contains over 7,200 projects, often known as “pork,” up from the 4,962 that were in the last spending package passed in April. Members in both parties stuffed these provisions into the bill, but Rep.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the only Democrat in either chamber to vote “no” who secured $20 million worth of funding for projects in her district."I campaigned on a promise to my constituents to oppose additional expansion and funding for ICE and DHS — particularly in the absence of long-overdue immigration reform," Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement Friday."For that reason, as well as the dramatic increase in defense spending which exceeds even President Biden’s request, I voted no on today’s omnibus bill." Only nine House Republicans supported the funding package, and all of them received funding for projects in their districts. Among the current Republican ranking members on the appropriations committee, only Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler and Rep. Steve Womack voted for the omnibus. Both received earmarks. I will vote against the radical Biden omnibus, which includes"woke" nonsense like a $3.6 million"Michelle Obama Trail" in Georgia. Why are Senate Republicans voting for this? https://t.co/iHiyU3nNIQ — Rep. Mary Miller December 20, 2022 The two House Republicans with the largest share of earmarks for their districts but who voted against the bill were Rep. Randy Weber , who scored $287.5 million, and Rep. Michael Waltz , with $169.4 million. A portion of the funding Weber secured will go toward an environmental project to be completed by the Army Corps of Engineers in Freeport, Texas. Waltz's office said the funding was allocated for"military construction across the state of Florida. They benefit service members of the U.S. military and National Guard." Rep. Vern Buchanan secured $16.5 million for his district for 11 different projects but also voted against the legislation. Rep. Elise Stefanik , the No. 3 Republican in the House, secured about $55 million in the bill but also voted against it. The congresswoman listed her requests for appropriations on her website. They include funding for a wastewater plant in Greenwich, New York, a police station in Moriah, and a childcare facility in Ogdensburg, among others. House Republicans voted to keep earmarks for spending bills when they take control of the House of Representatives next year, a defeat for Republicans looking to rein in spending on “pork.” Republicans banned earmarks when they took control of the House in 2010. In 2020, Democrats brought back the practice after winning both the House and the Senate. The Republican senators who were awarded the most earmarks and also voted against the legislation were Sens. Bill Cassidy , Cindy Hyde-Smith , and Thom Tillis . The three were awarded $391 million worth of earmarks.$3 million for the LGBTQ+ museum in NYC$4.1 million in various career programs for one of the richest counties in the US pic.twitter.com/pPTxuTwGfQSome GOP lawmakers who voted against the legislation accused their Democratic colleagues of pursuing “woke” projects with taxpayer funds. One project that was criticized was a $3.6 million project for the “Michelle Obama Trail” in Georgia, which was sponsored by Rep. Hank Johnson .Rep. Mary Miller wrote on Twitter that she would vote “against the radical Biden omnibus, which includes ‘woke’ nonsense.” Miller did not ask for any funding for projects in her district. Other Republicans singled out an earmark providing $3 million for the New York Historical Society and American LGBTQ+ Museum Partnership Project, which is set to expand the project’s building to include space for an exhibit of LGBT history and culture.
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