Outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) pushed back on House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) claim that the omnibus spending bill was “one of the most shameful acts,” inquiring if he had forgotten about the Capitol riot in 2021.
“This will probably be my last speech as speaker of the House on this floor, and I’m hoping to make it my shortest,” Pelosi, who is retiring from Democratic leadership in the new session, said in her speech.
“It was sad to hear the minority leader earlier say that this legislation is the ‘most shameful thing to be seen on the House floor in this Congress.’ I can’t help but wonder, had he forgotten Jan. 6?” she asked.
OMNIBUS SPENDING BILL SPLIT SHOWS REPUBLICANS FALLING INTO FAMILIAR SPENDING TRAP
The comments came just before the House passed the $1.7 trillion omnibus bill that will fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year.
Some conservative lawmakers strongly opposed the 4,000-page bill on the basis that they had little time to read it and that it contains earmarked spending. McCarthy, chief among the critics, railed against the bill in remarks ahead of the vote.
“This is a monstrosity that is one of the most shameful acts I’ve ever seen in this body,” he said. “The appropriations process has failed the American public.”
McCarthy further argued most of the lawmakers would be checked out and that they would not read the bill, voting by proxy ahead of the holiday weekend.
“This is a monstrosity that is one of the most shameful acts I have ever seen in this body. The appropriations process has FAILED the American public.”
—@GOPLeader Kevin McCarthy SLAMS the lame-duck omnibus bill pic.twitter.com/PZtttvAm8Z
— Chad Gilmartin (@ChadGilmartinCA) December 23, 2022
“They pass the continuing resolution for the people so government wouldn’t shut down. What date did they pick? Well, let’s think of right before Christmas so members won’t be here,” he said.
The House minority leader, who is running to replace Pelosi as House speaker, even threatened the 18 Senate Republicans who voted for it, saying they would not receive help for their legislation when Republicans take the House majority on Jan 3. Nevertheless, the spending bill cleared the lower chamber in a 226-201 vote on Friday, with just nine Republicans joining Democrats to back the legislation and one Democrat voting present. It will now head to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law.
“The omnibus will damage our country, & the blatant disregard for Article I, Section 5 of our Constitution will forever stain this Congress,” McCarthy said after its passage.
For the first time in history, a bill in the House was passed without a physical quorum present—more people voted by proxy than in person.
The omnibus will damage our country, & the blatant disregard for Article I, Section 5 of our Constitution will forever stain this Congress.
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) December 23, 2022
Pelosi, on the other hand, celebrated it, calling Friday a day of “immense patriotism” and saying that the legislation was “truly a package for the people.”
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The bill includes the Electoral Count Reform Act, which the California Democrat said would “thwart future attempts to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.” The legislation clarifies that the vice president only has a ceremonial role in counting the votes during a presidential election, likely another nod to what happened on Jan. 6, 2021.
