Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell wants Congress to delay passing the $410 billion fiscal year 2009 appropriations omnibus.
Speaking on the Senate floor Monday afternoon, McConnell said people need time to analyze how much money the government is spending in light of the $780 billion economic stimulus bill signed into law a few weeks ago.
There’s no reason for the Senate or the American people to feel an unnecessary rush, especially with a bill of this magnitude.”
McConnell, R-Ky., said Congress should pass another short-term continuing resolution to give more time to analyze the spending omnibus. All federal agencies except for Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs have been operating since Oct. 1 on a continuing resolution, which expires Friday.
That won’t happen, said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. He said the bill has been posted online for a week and that he’s “hopeful and confident” the Senate will pass the bill by Thursday.
People can look at it and have it memorized by now.”
