Rod Grams: “I also rise this morning to discuss my opposition to the omnibus appropriations legislation that was before us this…”

“I also rise this morning to discuss my opposition to the omnibus appropriations legislation that was before us this morning. While I realize many of my colleagues would have preferred not to return for this vote, there are a number of us who believed that a vote was essential on a bill that appropriates a third of our spending priorities for fiscal year 1999. To shirk our responsibility to the taxpayers, to hide behind an unrecorded vote, was unconceivable. I feel strongly that we are elected to represent the American people and to take care of the Nation's business. The people expect us to be responsible. They expect us to be accountable. They expect us to be here and do our job. In other words, when it is time to cast a vote of this magnitude, they expect us to be here, to stand up and to be counted. The omnibus appropriation legislation includes $500 billion in funding for many essential Government programs and functions. It represents 8 out of 13 appropriations bills, or two-thirds of this year's entire appropriations work, one-third of our entire annual Federal spending. It is by far the most important piece of legislation we have before us this year. This monster bill consists of more than 4,000 pages. We can hardly lift it, much less take time to review it before the vote. I venture to say that most Members of the Senate still have no idea what is in it.”