Ultra-conservatives decry inclusion of ‘evil earmarks’ allotting millions for LGBTQ centers, EV infrastructure and more in must-pass $460B deal negotiated by Speaker Johnson to avoid next government shutdown in just 5 DAYS

Congress’ ultraconservative group is weighing in on a new spending deal announced Sunday that would likely split funding for 12 government agencies in two votes up or down.

The more than 1,000-page spending plan for the first six government agencies, which have a funding deadline Friday, was released Sunday and members of the House Freedom Caucus and like-minded senators denounced “earmarks” in the bill.

After negotiations by House and Senate leaders of both parties, it will be voted on in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, wrote on .’

‘Destinations corrupt government. Earmarks turn Republicans into Democrats. No Republican should support them. No Republican should vote for this bill,” said Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.

Speaker Johnson said Republicans “achieved important conservative policy victories” with the more than $460 billion measure despite a “divided government,” and rejected “left-wing proposals” in the deal with Democrats announced Sunday.

The package would include Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy-Water, Interior-Environment, Military Construction-VA, and Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under one vote.

Conservatives have pushed for Congress to approve funding for every single government agency, but that has seemed untenable under a deeply divided government.

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, wrote on ‘

The spending package did not include the new border security restrictions that conservatives had wanted.

‘No. No. WTH (speaker Mike Johnson) what is wrong with you….’ read a post on X reposted by Roy.

Rep. Ralph Norman listed “the worst of the worst earmarks in Schumer’s +1,000-page spending spree.”

“EARMARKS ARE EVIL,” he wrote on X.

The South Carolina Republican noted that the bill includes $1.65 million for a “living and working space” for artists in New York, in Democratic Rep.’s district. Jamaal Bowman, and $1.1 million for an “electric vehicle infrastructure master plan” in Chicago, at the Democratic senator’s request. Dick Durbin, $1 million for a “citywide climate assessment” in Providence, RI, and $1 million for an LGBTQ community center in Philadelphia.

“It’s like the swamp to take YOUR money, borrow more and throw it all into reckless political pet projects. That’s earmarks in a nutshell,” said Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., on X.

“Just look at (Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer‘s) request for $1 million to build a new environmental justice center in New York. Give me a break.’

Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Va., denounced a number of policies that were “surrendered” or not included in the bill, including defunding Trump’s prosecution, blocking the use of funds for legal representation of illegal aliens and defunding President Biden’s executive branch. orders to expand gun restrictions.

Republicans touted “deep cuts” at the EPA (10%), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) (7%) and the FBI (6%), which Johnson said have “threatened our freedoms and our economy.” .

Other policy provisions in the bill would provide additional funding to the FAA to oversee production of Boeing 737 Max aircraft – following several alarming safety incidents in recent months – while another provision would prohibit the sale of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China prohibit.

Amtrak, the long-beleaguered American railroad, would also receive another $2.4 billion in financing.

Democrats said the bill maintained full funding for a special food assistance program for women, infants and children (WIC) and included gains in rental assistance and pay for infrastructure workers such as air traffic controllers.

Democrats also touted the bill that rejects “poison pills” such as banning the promotion of critical race theory and gender-affirming care at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

But other Republican Party-led provisions include banning veterans from being flagged by the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check without a judge’s approval.

In addition, U.S. Fish and Wildlife will halt endangered species inventory activities and strengthen tracking and assessment of foreign ownership of U.S. farmland.

The new funding details come after Congress passed a fourth short-term funding bill late last week, just one day before a government funding deadline.

A new funding deadline for the remaining government agencies looms on March 22, but Congress is expected to lump these bills into one to two minibus votes.