Washington – Senators narrowly voted Saturday to cut off debate on an omnibus spending bill with $447 billion in discretionary spending.
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The final vote will come Sunday afternoon.
The $1.1 trillion measure will essentially keep the government running but includes budget boosts to the Education Department, the State Department, the Department of Health and Human Services, and others.
It bundles six of the 12 annual spending bills — cutting off a lengthy appropriations process — and combines $650 billion in government spending for programs such as Medicare and Medicaid with $447 billion in discretionary government operating budgets.
The measure boosts spending on oversight of financial markets, high-speed rail, small business lending programs and needle-exchange programs.
But included in the measure are more than 5,000 earmarks sought by Democrats and Republicans.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., blasted the “pork” in the measure, reading into the congressional record an ABC News.com story that highlights the back-home spending projects.
Other Republicans argued the bill spends too much at a time when Americans are feeling the economic crunch.
“Obviously we need to run the government, but do you suppose the government could be a little bit like families and be just a little bit prudent in how much it spends?” said Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz.
Democratic leaders had to keep the vote open for more than an hour to reach the 60 votes.
The last “aye” came from Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Connecticut Independent, who is Jewish and does not use automobiles on Saturday for religious reasons.
Lieberman could be seen on the Senate floor in his long coat and scarf, after walking to work.
The senator lives nearly five miles from the Senate and temperatures were near freezing in Washington this morning.
Read the full story at ABC News
Going To Work On Shabbos Is A Clear Issur At Least Derabonon, I Cant Imagine Any Frum Rov Who Would Be Able To Find A Hetter today for a jew to hold a job that you have to work on shabos.
The Republicans should have stopped the filibuster when they noticed that the Democrats had 59 votes without Lieberman. What were they trying to pull?
#1 .
Stay ‘anonymous’ because no one wants to hear your caustic, unfair criticism contrary to Torah.
‘Haderet HaTov’ is a fundamental premise of Torah…so Thanks you Senator Lieberman for have self-sacrifice and honoring the Shabbat.
I’l state my name as I’ve done in the past but vosisneias doesn’t like it.
What a kiddush hashem!!!
Hope this will serve as an incouragement to our frum communittee that you can be frum observent and still hold a decent job.
a big chilul hashem
Kol hakovod to Joe Lieberman. The Ebeshter clearly wanted the debt limit increased and did not want to jeopardize all the people who depend on the government programs for health care, food stamps and other vital services which would have stopped without his vote. This vote as a lot more important than shabbos since the lives of many people were at risk. Also, Lieberman’s rav has said it is ok for him to vote on shabbos when its important so we cannot question his actions on the basis of halacha. All yidden should have a rav who understands their needs and provides a heter for those actions that are important.
#1 : There are many kulos for tzarchei rabbim. You probably don’t know about them because chazal didn’t want to publisize them to amei ha’Aretz. Your shul Rov goes to work on shabbos.
To #1 you are an idiot. Is your Rov not allowed to walk to your shul on shabbos in order to serve as the Rov?. I’m sure any difference you can think up will be attenuated and can apply to the Senator as well.
Dear Baruch what in the world is haderet hatov and shame on mr liberman for providing the dems that 60th vote on this teribule legislation I’d say it was a disgrace and shobbos dident need it yes it’s honnorabul that a man who is not realy frum. Tries his best to abide by the little he knows but you need a rabbi to deciide what’s allowd and what not
The idiot from post #1 is just jealous that Senator Lieberamn has a job and is successful. And what the idiot does not realize is that he asked a shailoh which was none of our business, but he did ask and the answer was to go and there were many reasons behind it. I guess senator Liberman knew there would be idiots like poster number 1 so he actually made this shailoh thing public.
What amazes me more than anything else about this article is not just the kiddush hashem that the seantor does for the world to see but many times the “modern” or whatever dumb words you can use to descirbe someone not like you, is the fact that he is more frum in many ways than the jerks that post here.
Stop judging a guy with how big or no bog yarmulekh is on the head or hos big the beard is.
I just hope he made a IRIVE TICHIMIM….to walk to the capital.
I don’t understand. I know that those involved in life saving jobs may work on Shabbat but what is the heter to permit Senator Lieberman or others to work on Shabbat? Some of the comments are confusing. I was under the impression that all work not involved with the maintenance of life was assur.
39 generic malachos? which malacha? soser? what are you talking about?
Polictics aside and compliance with every religious rule aside…I think Sen. Lieberman and his attempt to serve the American people and keep his Jewish identity as intact as possible are wonderful examples to the country of a truly comitted decent man.
Actually it’s a puzzle why he worked so hard to get it passed.The 3 democrats who voted against this spending spree,only did so after he gave the last needed vote.They obviously weren’t worried anymore about getting it passed,so why not get political points by voting against it.Besides obama promised to veto any such bills in the campaign,the last time he signed such a bill,he said it was for the last year before he became president.So this year it shoul be vetoed,why did liberman work so hard for a bill that’s going to be vetoed,accoarding to the obama pledge.