Washington, D.C. — Overnight, lawmakers released the text of a $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill, ahead of a Friday deadline to avert a government shutdown.
Patrice Onwuka, senior policy analyst at Independent Women’s Voice, released the following statement:
“Congress just placed a $1.7 trillion jack-in-the-box under the Christmas tree. While American families are watching their budgets due to high prices on basic necessities, Congress is flaunting the taxpayers’ credit card by charging up more debt to be paid by those who haven’t even been born. How quickly Washington lawmakers have forgotten that excessive and irresponsible spending last year—at a time when fiscal restraint was needed—spurred inflation to a 40-year high this year.
“With just days before the deadline, Congress will have 48 hours to read this over-4,100-page must-pass bill. It is likely chock full of lobbyist priorities and goodbye giveaways for lawmakers leaving Congress this year that will not receive the debate and consideration of the traditional legislative process. The next Congress should not be bound by the reckless decisions of the party leaving power. It’s sad that some conservatives have bought into Nancy Pelosi’s governing philosophy of passing mammoth legislation before seeing what’s inside. The public deserves more than crib notes of what lawmakers want to reveal now, only to be unpleasantly surprised in the future.
“While there may be commendable priorities in this bill, such as an extension of pandemic telehealth flexibility and cuts to the IRS’s budget, important provisions were left out, such as a delay or repeal of new IRS reporting requirements for casual sellers on apps and platforms such as Etsy, eBay, Venmo, and PayPal. This Form 1099-K reporting issue will burden millions of taxpayers with red tape, leading some households to take a financial hit next year.
“The best gift would be for Congress to pass a balanced budget on time each year that sets us on a path to debt reduction. That’s a gift the American people are still hoping for.”
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Independent Women’s Voice fights for women by expanding support for policy solutions that aren’t just well intended, but actually enhance freedom, opportunities, and well-being.