The THOMAS website has put up the content and conference summaries of the omnibus appropriations bill,
here . Okay, I have no life -- last night I read one section of the damn thing, and made note of some interesting, funny, awful, or otherwise notable provisions set to become law. (Last night, the docs were only available in pdf format, today there are also text versions which are easier to work with and smaller/faster to load.)
I looked at the Division H segment, "TRANSPORTATION, TREASURY, INDEPENDENT AGENCIES, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS".
(VERY long extended text....)
Title II (Treasury)
Sec. 214. None of the funds appropriated in this Act or otherwise available to the Department of the Treasury or the Bureau of Engraving and Printing may be used to redesign the $1 Federal Reserve note.
Somebody trying to replace Washington with ??? Reagan? LOL!
Sec. 222. Hereafter, notwithstanding any other provision of law governing the disclosure of income tax returns or return information, upon written request of the Chairman of the House or Senate Committee on Appropriations, the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service shall allow agents designated by such Chairman access to Internal Revenue Service facilities and any tax returns or return information contained therein.
The one that's getting all the attention, speaks for itself.
Title V (General Provisions)
Sec. 504. The expenditure of any appropriation under this Act for any consulting service through procurement contract pursuant to section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, shall be limited to those contracts where such expenditures are a matter of public record and available for public inspection, except where otherwise provided under existing law, or under existing Executive order issued persuant to existing law.
An attempt to get some transparency into the contracting process? Can you say Halliburton?
Sec. 510. This is an extremely long provision directed at gov't "agencies or entities" shifting funds appropriated for specific purposes to other purposes without the consent of Congress, including some pretty hefty penalties.
Sec. 512. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used by the Executive Office of the President to request from the Federal Bureau of Investigation any official background investigation report on any individual, except when --
(1) such individual has given his or her express written consent for such request not more than 6 months prior to the date of such request and during the same presidential administration; or
(2) such request is required due to extraordinary circumstances involving national security.
Somebody was up to something that didn't break through the MSM noise?
Sec. 515. No funds appropriated by this Act shall be available to pay for an abortion, or the administrative expenses in copnnection with any health plan under the Federal employees health benefits program which provides any benefits or coverage for abortions.
The Repugs got their bit...
Sec. 516. The provision of section 515 shall not apply where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term, or the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest.
The Dems tried to ameliorate?
Sec. 524. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used by the Council of Economic Advisors to produce an Economic Report of the President regarding the inclusion of employment at a retail fast food restaurant as part of the definition of manufacturing employment.
As was attempted this past year....
TITLE VI (GENERAL PROVISIONS -- Departments, Agencies, and Corporations)
Sec. 609. No part of any appropriation for the current fiscal year contained in this or any other Act shall be paid to any person for the filling of any position for which he or she has been nominated after the Senate has voted not to approve the nomination of said person.
Another 'shut-the-door-after-the-horse-bolts' law.
Sec. 618. No part of any appropriation contained in this or any other Act shall be available for the payment of the salary of any officer or employee of the Federal Government, who --
(1) prohibits or prevents, or attempts or threatens to prohibit or prevent, any other officer or employee of the Federal Government from having any direct oral or written communication or contact with any Member, committee, or subcommittee of the Congress in connection with any matter pertaining to the employment of such other officer or employee or pertaining to the department or agency of such other officer or employee in any way, irrespective of whether such communication or contact is at the initiative of such other officer or employee or in response to the request or inquiry of such Member, committee, or subcommittee; or
(2) removes, suspends from duty without pay, demotes, reduces in rank, seniority, status, pay, or performance of efficiency rating, denies promotion to, relocates, reassigns, transfers, disciplines, or discriminates in regard to any employment right, entitlement, or benefit, or any term or condition of employment of, any other officer or employee of the Federal Government, or attempts or threatens to commit any of the foregoing actions with respect to such other officer or employee, by reason of any communication or contact of such other officer or employee with any Member, committee, or subcommittee of the Congress as described in paragraph (1).
This horse already bolted too -- the flap about the real costs of the Prescription Drug Bill from last summer.
Sec. 629. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a woman may breastfeed her child at any location in a Federal building or on Federal property, if the woman and her child are otherwise authorized to be present at the location.
I'm guessing somebody got sued? Ouch! Boobies or 'family values' -- tough choice for the Pugs. LOL!
Who knew reading appropriations bills could be so entertaining?