Because now ANY crumb thrown their way seems to satiate them these days. I think since the mid-term elections are soon to occur, they want to show their stuff in this bill for their constituents to see that they are DOING something with their tax dollars. How they can spin this paltry effect that pleases so few, is beyond my comprehension. The DEMS are WEAK. That is the main problem we have here.
Fix NICs The omnibus includes legislation that would incentivize states and federal agencies to enter data into the country's National Instant Criminal Background Check System for gun purchases. In the simplest terms, the proposal wouldn't strengthen background checks but instead would hold federal agencies accountable if they fail to upload records to the background check system. Election security The measure includes $380 million for election security grants, which comes after the Senate Intelligence Committee released a bipartisan list of recommendations to states and the federal government to bolster election security. It was the first in a series of reports the panel is planning to put out summing up its findings and recommendations in the Russia investigation. The half-dozen recommendations from Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr of North Carolina and ranking Democrat Mark Warner of Virginia included a request for Congress to approve more funding for states to improve their election security, as well as urging the Department of Homeland Security to do a better job of communicating with state officials and getting them access to classified information they need. Infrastructure Funding that can be used for the controversial Gateway project, which aims to bolster railway infrastructure between New York and New Jersey, is included in the omnibus. New York and New Jersey's Gateway tunnel project -- a collection of upgrades along a 10-mile span including the Hudson Tunnel -- includes building a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River and rebuilding the existing deteriorating North River Tunnel that carries Amtrak trains every day between New Jersey and Penn Station. The White House infrastructure plan didn't include funding for the project and President Donald Trump, a native New Yorker, had been pressing congressional Republicans to oppose the funding for the plan. The omnibus includes $650 million for Amtrak's account that could be used for Gateway projects, as well as $153 million in funding for New Jersey and New York that also could be used for the project. The omnibus also will fund $2.645 billion for a grant program the Gateway project would be eligible to compete for, and $250 million for a federal-state partnership program Gateway could also apply for. Lastly, there is $592.5 million in rail infrastructure and safety improvement grants Gateway could utilize. The effort, by several accounts, is for both sides to be able to walk away and claim a piece of victory. Tax bill fix The omnibus contains a fix to the GOP's tax bill known as the "grain glitch" that had incentivized grain farmers to sell their product to co-ops at a disadvantage to other private buyers. In exchange, Democrats earned a boost to the affordable housing tax credit. Opioids The omnibus would increase funding to tackle the nation's opioid epidemic. It gives more than $4 billion across agencies to help state and local governments tackle the issue. The opioid crisis has long been considered a bipartisan issue in Congress. Restaurant tips The omnibus includes a proposal that would not allow a restaurant owner to "pool" tips and redistribute them among employees, something that was proposed by the Labor Department in December. "An employer may not keep tips received by its employees for any purposes, including allowing managers or supervisors to keep any portion of employees' tips, regardless of whether or not the employer takes a tip credit," the omnibus states. The omnibus also includes --
An increase in Child Care and Development Block Grants An increase in the daily pay for federal jury duty from $40 to $50 An expansion of the low-income housing tax credit More money for the National Park Service More money for veterans' hospitals and veterans' homes A pay raise for the troops $2.3 billion for school safety $1.57 billion for border security, including barriers and technology
Thank you for the thoughtful, comprehensive and informative reply Sharon. I wonder if doofylucy is pleased with all the palaver resulting from his signing the bill? He couldn't know everything that was in it. It was over 2000 pages long and we all know he does not read. Happy Monday! :)
The GOP has made falling into Democratic hands, into a fine art. They are beyond any hope of redemption. If they were to salvage anything, it would require growing a backbone,which as politicians, they are incapable of demonstrating.The Dems own this Omnibus Bill. They own their GOP colleagues also.The result being that they got exactly what they wanted. Just think what they'll accomplish after regaining majorities in both houses of Congress this year. The "me too" train wreck known as the Republican Party's Congressional "leadership" can sit home this fall and watch it all on TV with the rest of us.
This post was edited by Benedict Arnold at March 26, 2018 3:02 AM MDT
It's confusing as he** to me ub. We know doofylucy ain't a Republican. We know he used to be a Liberal New York Democrat. Is he reverting to type? You know he doesn't read. The bill was over 2000 pages long. He signed it without knowing what was in it as he must do with all bills. He "trusted" folks to tell him what it included and what it excluded? Sorry for all the questions but I'm trying real hard to understand what the he** is going on. Not easy. Maybe even not possible. I appreciate your trying though. I do. Thank you for your reply and Happy Monday to thee! :)
WM BARR . =ABSOLUTE TRASH 