Knowing your interest in budget issues, I wanted to inform you about the Democrats’ $447 billion Omnibus Appropriations bill that passed the House today. The Omnibus is the spending bill that contains six of the seven appropriations bills that Congress has not yet approved and that increases non-defense discretionary spending by more than 11% over last year. I believe this bill is based on misplaced priorities and lacks the fiscal commonsense that America needs during an economic recession. Across the country, millions of Americans are tightening their belts and it is essential that Congress do the same. I will not support a bill that will keep America on the path of big government and bigger spending. House Democrats continue to add to the crushing debt our children and grandchildren will face. In fact, over the last two fiscal years, the Democrat majority has increased non-defense, discretionary funding by 85%. I firmly believe Congress needs to make the tough decisions to get spending under control and restore fiscal sanity in Washington.