$1.2 Trillion Spending Package Unveiled In The Early Morning Hours, Partial Shutdown Approaches

Congressional leaders unveiled a 1,012-page, $1.2 trillion spending package in the middle of the night as a partial government shutdown approaches.

Wake up, another massive spending bill dropped while you were sleeping.

1,012 pages that spend $1.2 TRILLION of taxpayer dollars released by the Swamp at 2:30 in the morning. pic.twitter.com/a8T2vEAjeX

— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) March 21, 2024

The Associated Press reports:

Text of the legislation had not been released as of Wednesday afternoon, but lawmakers and aides were expecting an official unveiling early Thursday. The package, which is expected to pass, will wrap up Congress’ work on spending bills for the year — nearly six months after the fiscal year began.

This year’s dozen spending bills were packed into two packages. The first one cleared Congress two weeks ago just hours before a shutdown deadline for the agencies funded through the bills.

Now Congress is focused on the second, larger package, which includes about $886 billion for defense, about a 3% increase from last year’s levels. The bill also funds the Departments of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Labor and others, with non-defense spending expected to be relatively flat compared to the prior year.

“The minibus was released at 2:32 am and is 1,012 pages of $1.2 trillion taxpayer dollars. And we are supposed to be voting on it tomorrow morning under suspension with no amendments allowed with the super scary government shutdown deadline threat looming tomorrow at midnight. It takes 27.8 hours for the average reader to read 1,000 pages. I guess we are supposed to just pass it first and then find out what’s in it like Nancy Pelosi says,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) said.

“This comes after months and months of hardly any effort to pass single issue appropriation bills while 3 Continuing Resolutions (continuing Pelosi’s budget) were passed. Our Republican majority started this Congress with sweeping rule changes to stop this very behavior yet here we are on the verge of passing a second minibus under suspension with no amendments allowed and violating the 72 hour rule,” she added.

The minibus was released at 2:32 am and is 1,012 pages of $1.2 trillion taxpayer dollars.

And we are supposed to be voting on it tomorrow morning under suspension with no amendments allowed with the super scary government shutdown deadline threat looming tomorrow at midnight.… pic.twitter.com/e6ehBiznRw

— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) March 21, 2024

“Less than 24 hrs to review – the #SwampOmnibus – 1000+ pages & $1.2 Trillion – busts spending caps to fund the WHO, woke DOD, a weaponized FBI new headq, & 100% fails to stop Progressive Democrats’ mass releases of criminals across our borders. No Republican should vote for it,” Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) commented.

Less than 24 hrs to review – the #SwampOmnibus – 1000+ pages & $1.2 Trillion – busts spending caps to fund the WHO, woke DOD, a weaponized FBI new headq, & 100% fails to stop Progressive Democrats’ mass releases of criminals across our borders. No Republican should vote for it. pic.twitter.com/NVETIsD7UJ

— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) March 21, 2024

“At 2:32 am—when Americans were sleeping—the Swamp released its second half of the omnibus. 1,012 pages that spend $1.2 TRILLION of taxpayer dollars on disastrous policies. The House is still expected to vote on this monstrosity TOMORROW MORNING. Washington is beyond broken,” Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) said.

At 2:32 am—when Americans were sleeping—the Swamp released its second half of the omnibus.

1,012 pages that spend $1.2 TRILLION of taxpayer dollars on disastrous policies.

The House is still expected to vote on this monstrosity TOMORROW MORNING.

Washington is beyond broken. pic.twitter.com/AlZCDYWBKK

— Rep. Andrew Clyde (@Rep_Clyde) March 21, 2024

“No sane person would buy a car under this kind of pressure—with a 1,012-page contract and no meaningful opportunity to review it or make changes. Members of Congress should be even more reluctant—not less—to vote for a 1,012-page, $1.2 trillion bill under the same pressure,” Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) said.

No sane person would buy a car under this kind of pressure—with a 1,012-page contract and no meaningful opportunity to review it or make changes.

Members of Congress should be even more reluctant—not less—to vote for a 1,012-page, $1.2 trillion bill under the same pressure. https://t.co/VKPKXDjlVb

— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) March 21, 2024

“The DC Cartel released the text of the $1.2 trillion minibus in the middle of the night. It is 1,012 pages. At $34.5 trillion in debt, we cannot afford this continued reckless spending,” Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) said.

The DC Cartel released the text of the $1.2 trillion minibus in the middle of the night.

It is 1,012 pages.

At $34.5 trillion in debt, we cannot afford this continued reckless spending.

— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) March 21, 2024

Per ABC News:

Congressional leaders and the White House have reached agreement on how to fund the Department of Homeland Security, one of the last hurdles to prevent an approaching partial government shutdown deadline Friday — but it might not come together in time.

Funding for DHS was the final major sticking point in negotiations for the six spending bills that need to pass to avert a shutdown. The details of the negotiation haven’t yet been released.

The agreement on DHS funding paves the way for lawmakers to start processing the spending package in the hopes of meeting Friday’s deadline to avert a partial government shutdown. A deal has been reached on the remaining six government funding bills, congressional leaders confirmed.

“An agreement has been reached for DHS appropriations, which will allow completion of the FY24 appropriations process,” said Speaker Mike Johnson. “House and Senate committees have begun drafting bill text to be prepared for release and consideration by the full House and Senate as soon as possible.”

But with negotiators still working out the details and legislative text of the full agreement still not out, lawmakers are up against the clock to prevent a shutdown. The House has a rule requiring 72 hours for members to review legislation before voting; the Senate also can take a few days to process House-passed bills. That means a vote may not happen until the end of the week or weekend — increasing the chances of shutdown — unless Johnson speeds up the process.

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.

View the original article here.