On the recordDecember 22, 2022
Mr. President, according to the National Association of State Budget Officers in a report it just issued, States are sitting on a surplus, cumulatively, of over $250 billion. In addition to that, they have rainy day funds approaching over $130 billion. That totals up to about $380 billion. This omnibus is going to spend somewhere around $1.7 trillion; yet it is still not enough. Here are the 625 pages of earmarks--almost $10 billion worth of additional money going to the States when they are sitting on close to $400 billion in surpluses. This is grotesque. Earmarks are the gateway drug to the mortgaging of our children's futures. This abuse must stop. My amendment simply eliminates all of the earmarks from this grotesque omnibus bill. I ask my colleagues to support the elimination of all of the earmarks in this bill. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The President pro tempore.
