Congress came back from spring break on Apr. 19, and that’s bad news for taxpayers.  The 108^th Congress kicked off its second session by passing a mammoth $820 billion omnibus appropriations bill to fund the federal government through the remainder of fisal 2004.  CAGW’s 2004 Pig Book identified a record $22.9 in pork in the 2004 federal budget.

President Bush submitted his budget for the fiscal year 2005 in early February.  Congress took a detour from the budget debate to pass pork-stuffed highway legislation - a $275 billion bill in the House and a $315 billion bill in the Senate.  President Bush has promised to veto the final version if it exceeds $256 billion. Congress also passed an $80 billion bailout for corporate pension plans. 

On the positive side, a self-described “Dirty Dozen” conservative lawmakers in the House are planning to block budget-busting spending bills by crossing the aisle.  Frustrated with the explosion of government spending, they believe by voting with Democrats they can defeat the rules that allow for suspension of budget controls.  Republican leadership routinely exploits procedural loopholes in the budget, such as waiving spending limits or stretching the definition of emergency spending.  GOP conservatives are demanding enforcement measures that would restore discipline to the budget process.