Omnibus Pork Bill Passes

Only $410 billion and 9,500 earmarks:

The Senate today passed the $410 billion omnibus spending bill that critics say also includes billions of dollars of political pork.

The bill, which will fund most Cabinet departments and some other federal agencies for 2009, passed in a voice vote after senators voted 62-35 to end debate.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said earlier that the president will sign the bill despite questions about spending priorities. The administration considers it old business that should have been resolved before Obama took over the Oval Office.

Republicans and some Democrats have questioned the bill, which includes $5.5 billion and as much as an estimated $7.7 billion in earmarks -- funding sought by legislators for favored projects. Some call such funding political pork, while other lawmakers have defended the special spending because it goes to pay for needed local projects.

According to Ace, Obama was only able to secure two Dem Senator's votes after he promised to ignore the provisions in the bill opening trade relations with Cuba.

Does anyone really think he'll do that?

And, when this is signed, it will toss a great many poor D.C. children out of their private schools since the bill includes cancellation of the D.C. voucher program. He'll have to explain to Sasha and Malia why two of their friends won't be returning to Sidwell Friends next year.

If Obama means what he campaigned on, he has to veto this bill.

However, he won't. Those promises have already expired.