Quoting from YOUR ARTICLE LONGSHOT
The bill all but groans with earmarks, or money for museums, industrial parks and other projects for home districts of lawmakers of both parties. Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., top Democrat on the Appropriations panel, said there were more than 7,000 of them worth more than $7.5 billion, a long and ever-expanding tradition that prompted some conservative Republicans to oppose the bill.
"We seem to have no shame," said conservative Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.
Democrats complained that the bill provided too little for schools, veterans and other programs and dictated federal policy that in many cases saw Bush prevail over congressional opposition.
Democrats said they would object to an effort by Frist, expected Tuesday, to push the legislation through the Senate by voice vote. Like their House counterparts, the anger of Democratic senators was focused on the policy fights with Bush over overtime and other issues.
The $373 billion includes $45 billion for highway, aviation and mass transit projects that comes from transportation taxes, such as the federal levy on gasoline.
In addition, the bill triggers the expenditure of $447 billion for Medicare and other automatically paid benefits for which no congressional decision-making is required.
RS