Stymied by veto threats and unwilling to risk a government shutdown, Democrats in Congress approved a $516 billion catch-all budget that pares down their spending ambitions to meet President Bush's fiscal targets. …The measure combines 11 appropriations bills into a 1,482-page 'omnibus' that would fund every department except Defense, which was the subject of a separate bill that already passed. It covers the fiscal year that began Oct 1. (USA Today, Tuesday)
Only $516 billion.
FEE Timely Classic
Spending Limits Are Not Enough by John Semmens