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Omnibus Spending Bill Hits Snag

That $821 billion Omnibus Appropriation bill for fiscal 2005 was approved by both the House and Senate last weekend, but it won't be signed into law by President George W. Bush before December. It appears an overlooked provision of the measure would have allowed Congressional staff to look at any individual's confidential tax records. Once lawmakers found the measure, according to wire reports, they wanted it pulled from the bill.

That means the measure won't head to the White House for signing until a subsequent resolution killing the provision is passed. The resolution will be taken up sometime in December.

Ag spending in the bill is settled and locked at $83.3 billion for 2005. Discretionary spending is set at $17 billion and about 1% under what was appropriated in 2004. Much of the reduction is due to lower-than-expected program expenditures in light of stronger commodity prices.