On behalf of FreedomWorks activists nationwide, I urge you to contact your representative and senators and ask them to support the Spending Cuts to Expired and Unnecessary Programs Act, H.R. 3 and S. 2979, introduced by Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah). This bill would rescind the $15 billion in unobligated budget authorities from previous years that President Trump requested to Congress earlier this week in his proposal to rescind funds as provided for under the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974.

Arguments from Republicans in favor of the omnibus spending package passed by Congress last week are almost all tied together by a common theme: “our military needs this.” The $700 billion appropriated in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, H.R. 1625, for defense spending is argued to be crucial for the security of our country. This mantra resonated loudly among the 145 Republican representatives and 25 Republican senators who cast a “yea” vote for the omnibus last Thursday.

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) told reporters earlier today that the government spending bill will be released late Tuesday evening, likely right before midnight. The House will vote on Thursday. The Senate will follow. As long as the bill isn't amended, the bill will subsequently go to the president's desk. But the process has cast a dark cloud for this spending bill. And the $1.3 trillion at which Congress will appropriate is also a reminder of a bad budget deal Congress recently passed.

While the Republican House Rules Committee moratorium on earmarks implemented in 2010 is still in place (despite the potential for bringing back earmarks rearing its ugly head not more than a few months ago), $900 million for one special project -- the Gateway Project -- was included in a House appropriations bill, H.R. 3354, just last year. Gateway is a $29.5 billion project for an Amtrak bridge and tunnel upgrade between Newark and New York City, that both states want federal dollars to pay for.

The House and Senate are in session this week.

The House and Senate are in session this week.