(Washington, D.C) U.S. Congressman Sam Graves voted against a $410 Billion dollar Omnibus spending bill today that would fund government operations for the rest of the fiscal year. The fiscal year actually began in October, but is running on temporary funding. Graves criticized the excessive spending in the bill that will increase federal spending over last year by 8.4% or $32 billion.

 

“Washington continues to talk about fiscal responsibility, while spending in a fiscally irresponsible way,” said Graves, referencing a fiscal responsibility summit held earlier in the week. “We need a spending freeze, not a spending spree.”

 

In January, the Congressional Budget Office projected that the FY 2009 deficit would be $1.186 trillion or 8.3% of GDP. This would be the largest nominal deficit in U.S. history, as well as the largest deficit as a percentage of GDP in U.S. history outside of World War II. Since January 2007, the national debt has increased from $8.67 trillion to $10.73 trillion, an increase of $2.06 trillion or 23.8% in just two years.

 

“We have now spent over $2 trillion dollars on bailout and stimulus bills,” said Graves. “We are not just spending money that we don’t have; we are spending money that our grandchildren will not have.”

 

In a separate vote on the rules for debate, Graves joined 397 other members in blocking pay raises for lawmakers. Graves has co-sponsored legislation in previous sessions to block automatic pay raises for lawmakers.

 

“We have more pressing needs than lawmaker pay raises,” said Graves. “We need to remember that this is not our money, it is the people’s money.”

 

The bill now heads to the Senate. The temporary funding for this fiscal year ends on March 6^th.

 

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