G.O.P. Iawmakers who voted against a massive $1.7 trillion package got billions in assignmentsknown as funding for community projectswhich directs federal dollars to specific “pet projects” in a member’s home states and districts.
The bill contains more 7,200 projects, often known as the “pig,” up from 4,962 in the last spending package passed in April. MPs from both parties inserted these provisions into the bill, but Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is the only Democrat in either house to vote “no,” who won $20 million in funding for projects in her district.
AOC GOES AGAINST DEMOCRATS, VOTES NO TO $1.7 trillion OMNIBUS BILL
“I campaigned on a promise to my constituents to oppose further expansion and funding of ICE and DHS, especially in the absence of long overdue immigration reform,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement Friday. “For this reason, along with the dramatic increase in defense spending that exceeds even President Biden’s request, I voted no on today’s omnibus bill.”
Only nine House Republicans supported the funding program, and all received funding for projects in their districts. Of the current Republican members of the appropriations committee, only representing Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) and Rep. Steve Womak (R-AK) voted for the omnibus, both received assignments.
I will be voting 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 (@RepMaryMiller) December 20, 2022
The two House Republicans with the largest share of assignments for their districts but voted against the bill are Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX)which scored $287.5 million and Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL), with $169.4 million. A portion of the funding Weber gets will go towards an environmental project to be carried out by the US Army Corps of Engineers in Freeport, Texas. Much of Waltz District’s funding is for emergency relief for hurricane recovery. Waltz was among 16 Sunshine State Republicans who received such funding. representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) won $16.5 million for his district for 11 different projects, but also voted against the legislation.
Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY), the no. The 3 Republican in the House got about $55 million in the bill, but also voted against it. The deputy registered her approval requests on its website. They include funding for a sewage treatment plant in Greenwich, a police station in Moriah, a daycare center in Ogdensburg, among others.
House Republicans voted to retain spending money when they take control of the House of Representatives next year, a defeat for Republicans seeking to reign in “hog” spending. Republicans banned postings when they took control of the House in 2010. In 2020, Democrats brought the practice back after winning both the House and Senate.
The Republican senators who received the most assignments and who also voted against the legislation were Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-AL), Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MI) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC). The three received $391 million in assignments.
Some additional assignments:
$477k for Equity Institute “anti-racism” training
$3 million for the LGBTQ+ museum in New York
$1.2 million in “services for DACA recipients”
$4.1 million in various career programs for one of the wealthiest counties in the United States (Fairfax) pic.twitter.com/pPTxuTwGfQ
— Rep. Dan Bishop (@RepDanBishop) December 20, 2022
Some GOP lawmakers who voted against the legislation accused fellow Democrats of pursuing “woke” projects with taxpayer dollars. 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 (D-AG).
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representing Mary Miller (R-IL) wrote on Twitter that she would vote “against the radical Biden omnibus, which includes ‘woke’ nonsense.” Miller did not request any funding for projects in his district.
Other Republicans have designated a $3 million allocation for the New York Historical Society-American LGBTQ Museum partnership project, which is expected to expand the project building to include space for a history exhibit and LGBTQ culture.
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