Members of Congress now have had more than 24 hours to review the language of a $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package with a December 23 deadline fast approaching.
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) says he and his staff are reviewing the legislation, with potentially more than $650 million in earmarks connected to Alabama courtesy of Tuberville's counterpart, U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa).
During an appearance on FM Talk 106.5's "The Jeff Poor Show," Tuberville suggested the bill was a mixed bag. He said there was some "good" in it but criticized additional funding for Ukraine's war effort and the "giveaways and entitlements" included.
He said he had not made up his mind as to how he will vote on the package.
"They finally dropped the text last night, about 1:30," he said. "So, my staff and I this morning started reading through it – the good, the bad and the ugly. There's some good. There's some things in there for Alabama, but there's also a lot of bad. You know, $47 billion more for Ukraine? Are you kidding me? This will put us over $100 billion fighting another war for somebody else, which I don't think they have a chance to win. I don't know the direction that we're coming from."
"But, we'll finish reading it today and tomorrow, and I'm sure we'll probably have a vote on it with amendments come Thursday," Tuberville continued. "I think they've got enough votes to get it through. I'm going to make my mind up the next 48 hours the direction we're going to go. But it is a monstrosity of $1.7 trillion – a lot of giveaways, a lot of entitlements, a lot of things the American taxpayer don't need, don't want to pay. But it is what it is. Democrats are in control. For whatever reason, people across the country voted for their control for two more years. Man alive, I still can't get over that election."
Jeff Poor is the executive editor of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
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