FreedomWorks “Key-Votes” H.J. Res. 20, the Democrat Omnibus Appropriations Bill

On behalf of more than 800,000 FreedomWorks members nationwide, I write to urge you to vote NO on H.J. Res. 20, the erroneously labeled “continuing appropriations" resolution. A clean continuing resolution would leave government programs funded at their current levels, but no more and would save taxpayers over $6 billion for FY07.

However, H.J. Res. 20 is incorrectly labeled a continuing resolution, when in fact it is nothing more than an omnibus appropriations bill. Instead of saving taxpayers billions by cutting out the explosion of spending, this resolution will cost taxpayers more than $463 billion and will not allow amendments to the bill. Rather than applying a continuing resolution formula to all spending programs, the authors of H.J. Res. 20, have handpicked certain programs for increases and others for spending cuts.

Democrats, while claiming to address the problem of earmarks through this resolution, in reality have allowed a provision in the bill that maintains the current earmarking practice. In fact, H.J. Res. 20 will fund over two dozen earmarks included in previous appropriations bills. While this bill may not include any new earmarks, older multi-year earmarks will be funded as planned because no language is included which would rescind these earmarks. In fact, the bill does not cancel funds earmarked for Majority Leader Harry Reid's home state, among others, as initially proposed by House negotiators. 

I ask that lawmakers take a responsible tact and finally demonstrate some fiscal discipline by passing a true continuing resolution and not an omnibus appropriations package which uses several budget gimmicks to increase spending on Democrat priorities. FreedomWorks will count your vote on H.J. Res. 20 as a KEY VOTE when calculating the FreedomWorks Economic Scorecard. The FreedomWorks Economic Scorecard is used to determine eligibility for the Jefferson Award, which recognizes lawmakers with voting records that support economic freedom.

Sincerely,

Matt Kibbe
President and CEO
FreedomWorks