Gerald Kleczka: “as sure as swallows returning to Capistrano, it seems like every year Congress considers a supplemental spending bill to…”

“as sure as swallows returning to Capistrano, it seems like every year Congress considers a supplemental spending bill to fatten all the other appropriations bills we pass year. This is just a way to spend more than we said we would in the first place. While I know there are many fine things the $29 billion in this bill could buy, I have to wonder why these programs can't wait until the regular appropriations process, which is just about to begin. After all, we are already more than halfway through this fiscal year with just four months left to go before Fiscal Year 2003 arrives. In truth, there are many provisions in this bill which are not really the result of an emergency and do not require 'emergency spending.' What is really going on, is that, as in previous supplemental appropriations bills, this one will allow Congress to circumvent the very spending caps it has set. In a wave of the magic wand, the $29 billion contained in this bill will not count against those spending limitations. And therefore it will allow certain programs and departments to bulk up now so that there will be less pressure this summer for budget-busting increases in the regular appropriations bills. Along with all the extra spending in this bill, there are unrelated measures that have been thrown in. This legislation will be used to raise the federal debt limit.”