Omnibus spending bill
Encyclopedia
An omnibus spending bill is a bill
that sets the budget
of many departments of the United States
government at once. It is one possible outcome of the budget process
in the U.S.
Every year, Congress
must pass bills
that appropriate
money
for all discretionary government spending. Generally, one bill is passed for each sub-committee
of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations. Ordinarily, each bill is passed separately — one bill for Defense, one for Homeland Security, and so on.
When Congress does not or cannot produce separate bills in a timely fashion (by the beginning of the fiscal year on October 1), it will roll many of the separate appropriations bills into one omnibus spending bill. Some of the reasons that Congress might not complete all the separate bills include partisan disagreement, disagreement amongst members of the same political party
, and too much work on other bills.
Often, omnibus spending bills are criticized for being full of pork
(unnecessary/wasteful spending that pleases constituents
). The bills regularly stretch to more than 1,000 pages. Nevertheless, such bills have grown more common in recent years.
In 2009, a $410 billion dollar omnibus bill, the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 , became a point of controversy due to its $8 billion in earmark
s. On March 11, the bill was signed by U.S. President Barack Obama into law as .
Bill (proposed law)
A bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an act or a statute....
that sets the budget
Budget
A budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
of many departments of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government at once. It is one possible outcome of the budget process
Budget process
A budget process refers to the process by which governments create and approve a budget, which is as follows:* The Financial Service Department prepares worksheets to assist the department head in preparation of department budget estimates...
in the U.S.
Every year, Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
must pass bills
Bill (proposed law)
A bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an act or a statute....
that appropriate
Appropriation (law)
In law and government, appropriation is the act of setting apart something for its application to a particular usage, to the exclusion of all other uses....
money
Money
Money is any object or record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts in a given country or socio-economic context. The main functions of money are distinguished as: a medium of exchange; a unit of account; a store of value; and, occasionally in the past,...
for all discretionary government spending. Generally, one bill is passed for each sub-committee
Committee
A committee is a type of small deliberative assembly that is usually intended to remain subordinate to another, larger deliberative assembly—which when organized so that action on committee requires a vote by all its entitled members, is called the "Committee of the Whole"...
of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations. Ordinarily, each bill is passed separately — one bill for Defense, one for Homeland Security, and so on.
When Congress does not or cannot produce separate bills in a timely fashion (by the beginning of the fiscal year on October 1), it will roll many of the separate appropriations bills into one omnibus spending bill. Some of the reasons that Congress might not complete all the separate bills include partisan disagreement, disagreement amongst members of the same political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
, and too much work on other bills.
Often, omnibus spending bills are criticized for being full of pork
Pork barrel
Pork barrel is a derogatory term referring to appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representative's district...
(unnecessary/wasteful spending that pleases constituents
Electoral district
An electoral district is a distinct territorial subdivision for holding a separate election for one or more seats in a legislative body...
). The bills regularly stretch to more than 1,000 pages. Nevertheless, such bills have grown more common in recent years.
In 2009, a $410 billion dollar omnibus bill, the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 , became a point of controversy due to its $8 billion in earmark
Earmark (politics)
In United States politics, an earmark is a legislative provision that directs approved funds to be spent on specific projects, or that directs specific exemptions from taxes or mandated fees...
s. On March 11, the bill was signed by U.S. President Barack Obama into law as .
See also
- Appropriation billAppropriation billAn appropriation bill or running bill is a legislative motion which authorizes the government to spend money. It is a bill that sets money aside for specific spending...
- Omnibus billOmnibus billAn omnibus bill is a proposed law that covers a number of diverse or unrelated topics. Omnibus is derived from Latin and means "for everything"...
- 2010 United States federal budget2010 United States federal budgetThe United States Federal Budget for Fiscal Year 2010, titled A New Era of Responsibility: Renewing America's Promise, is a spending request by President Barack Obama to fund government operations for October 2009–September 2010...
- 2011 United States federal budget grew