A new $447 billion bill to be distributed through several Cabinet departments and other key agencies for the 2010 budget year was passed by Senate on Sunday. The bill, which was passed on Friday by House, will now need to head to President Barack Obama’s desk to be signed into law.
About the Bill
The bill that passed is considered an omnibus bill, which means that it is a collection of a number of different measures. In this case, there are six appropriations measures in the bill providing money for non-defense government agencies, including the departments of Transportation, State Department, Veterans Affairs, Commerce and Justice. The funds will be applied for the fiscal year that started Oct. 1st.
Some specifics of the bill include:
- Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) creation: The agency that will regulate consumer credit products will receive funding for its creation.
- Auto dealer assistance: Dealers closed down under the GM and Chrysler restructuring would get funds to possibly be reinstated.
- Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security assistance: An additional $600 billion will be authorized for mandatory federal spending for these programs.
The Bill’s Opposition
Republicans have denounced the bill as bloated and wasteful, citing that it contained 5,244 earmarks (pet projects sought by Congress members) that had little to do with helping the nation. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said before Sunday’s vote that he demanded the president to veto this bill as he suggested he would in March.
Some specific complaints of the bill include its allowance of the government to transfer suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to the U.S. to stand trial and the allowance of guns in checked luggage on Amtrak trains.
There is no official word yet on when Obama will sign the bill into law; however, from his statement following the House’s bill passage, he approves of the bill and will not veto it.
