In the midst of chasing down impeachment Tuesday, House Democrats and Republicans agreed to a truly massive $1.4 trillion spending deal that would shove the country’s yearly deficit to over $1 trillion. With the new out of control spending expected to be signed by President Trump and the national debt already over $23 trillion, news of the deal went unreported during the evening newscasts of ABC, CBS, and NBC.
As NewsBusters previously noted in regards to the omission of crucial stories that same evening, the broadcast networks were too busy salivating over impeachment. NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt eagerly proclaimed President Trump would occupy a “rare and dishonored place in American history.” And ABC and NBC gushed about former Trump campaign staffer Rick Gates getting sentenced to three years of probation.
In contrast, the Fox News Channel’s Special Report had a news brief from correspondent Mike Emanuel. “$1.4 trillion in spending. Both bills passed. They will be sent onto the Senate where we expect that they will pass there and be sent onto the President for his signature. With $1.4 trillion in spending to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year,” he reported.
Emanuel equated the spending package to “a gigantic Christmas tree,” because, “There's something under it for everyone. And so, almost every lawmaker can say their funding priorities are being met.”
Meanwhile, Washington Post reporters Erica Werner and Mike DeBonis seemed to lament the lack of reasonable voices opposed to the massive spending increase:
The spending binge generated predictable finger-pointing, with Republicans defending their demands for increased Pentagon budgets while accusing Democrats of profligacy in funding domestic agencies. Democrats argued the reverse, contending that more money for health and education programs was justified and blaming Republicans for making defense spending the price to pay. Few if any voices could be heard defending Congress’ overall addiction to growing the federal budget, and with it the nation’s debt, which now exceeds $23 trillion.
“All told, the legislation could add more than $500 billion to deficits over the next decade. The deficit — or annual gap between government spending and tax revenue — is expected to eclipse $1 trillion this year and grow in subsequent years unless changes are made,” they added.
Even Fox News seemed to salute the spending package in an online article by describing it as “hard-fought legislation” and a “must-pass legislative locomotive.”
The deal may have obtained funding for the border wall and even more for the Pentagon, but at what cost? The deal also came with funding for a load of Democratic pet projects like EPA and anti-gun research. And, for some reason, raising the age to buy tobacco products to 21.
The transcript is below:
Fox News Channel’s Special Report
December 17, 2019
6:09:32 p.m. Eastern [43 seconds]BRET BAIER: All right, Mike. Government funding, due to expire late Friday night. What's the latest on the efforts to pass the funding in the middle of all of this.
MIKE EMANUEL: Yeah, well, the House is moving forward with impeachment tomorrow, they passed two massive funding bills today. $1.4 trillion in spending. Both bills passed. They will be sent onto the Senate where we expect that they will pass there and be sent onto the President for his signature. With $1.4 trillion in spending to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year, through the end of September. It's like a gigantic Christmas tree. There's something under it for everyone. And so, almost every lawmaker can say their funding priorities are being met. And we do expect the President to sign. Bret.
BAIER: Ok, Mike Emanuel live on the hill. Mike, thanks.
