McConnell Offers One-Page Alternative To Dem Spending Bill

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has introduced a measure aimed at keeping the federal government funded for a couple more months. McConnell’s continuing resolution would mean that the incoming Congress would be tasked with passing a budget, something lawmakers failed to do this year.

The single-page proposal from the Kentucky Republican is meant to counter a nearly 2,000 page ‘omnibus’ package from Democrats that would fund all twelve of President Obama’s cabinets through the end of the 2011 fiscal year at a cost of over $1 trillion total.

“[Democrats] want us to ram this gigantic, trillion dollar bill through Congress — and they’re using the Christmas break as a inducement to get us to vote for it,” McConnell said during floor remarks on Thursday. “This is no way to legislate.”

Contrary to the Democratic package, which includes roughly $8.6 billion worth of earmark requests from members of both parties, the GOP leader’s proposal is “clean” and would carry over 2010 spending levels. It would keep the government running until February 18.

Click here to read more…