Robert Reich: Mitch McConnell's sneaky last minute addition to omnibus
A major showdown has blown up in the Congress over a bill (called the Omnibus Spending Bill) to continue funding the government after tomorrow night (December 11). At the last moment today, Senator McConnell snuck in a provision that would increase by 500% the contribution limit any one donor can give to political parties and its associated committees. It’s bad enough donors can now give $259,200 in in an election cycle. If this bill passes, a single donor will be able to give $1,555,200 in one check. (The bill contains other giveaways – relieving government contractors of the requirement to disclose their political spending, gutting some core provisions of the Dodd-Frank financial reform law, cutting funding for the EPA and IRS, and exempting certain activities from Clean Water Act regulations.)
The Republicans aren't even in charge of Congress yet, and they're already wreaking havoc. Please call your senator first thing tomorrow morning and urge a vote against the Omnibus Spending bill, even if it means the government is temporarily closed.