Video: Obama Slams Earmarks in 2009 Omnibus Bill, Demands Change

Guy Benson | December 15, 2010 1:49 PM

As we've mentioned throughout the day, Senate Democrats are trying to jam through a 2,000 page, $1.1 Trillion omnibus spending bill loaded with thousands of wasteful earmarks before the lame duck session expires. Republicans are having

none of it. John Boehner has issued a straightforward challenge to the president: Oppose and, if necessary, veto the bill. If the incoming House Speaker proves incapable of persuading Barack Obama to buck his own party and reject the omnibus, perhaps the president will be willing to heed the advice of another fierce opponent of larded- up, eleventh-hour omnibus appropriations bills -- himself:

As I argued earlier, if the president signs this huge spending bill, he'll flagrantly violate every principle and pledge outlined in the speech above. Twenty-one short months ago, he demanded that Congress act immediately to reform the process of earmarking in order to avoid "another massive, last minute omnibus bill" like the one he grudgingly signed in 2009. "Neither I, nor the American people, will accept anything less," he said, before concluding that "[the 2009 omnibus bill] must mark the end to the old way of doing business and the beginning of a new era of responsibility and accountability that the American people have every right to expect and demand."

Indeed, Mr. President.

Republicans couldn't have said it any better themselves. Opponents of this heinous legislative Christmas tree should cite the president's words at every turn as this debate moves forward.