GOP Issues Ultimatum: Obama Must Veto Earmark-Laden Spending Bill

As we've reported, Congress is currently tackling a $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill, significantly weighed down with 20,000 earmark requests. But Republicans are pushing back Tuesday evening as soon-to-be Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, issued an ultimatum for President Barack Obama.

“If President Obama is truly serious about ending earmarks, he should oppose Senate Democrats’ pork-laden omnibus spending bill and announce he will veto it if necessary," Boehner challenged in a statement. "This bill represents exactly what the American people have rejected: more spending, more earmarks, and more big government. Republicans strongly oppose this last-ditch spending spree, a smack in the face to taxpayers at a time when we’re borrowing 40 cents of every dollar we spend. Senate Democrats even go so far as to plow more than $1 billion into implementing ObamaCare, despite a growing national revolt against this job-killing health care law."

Additionally, Boehner stressed that the need to stop Washington's "job-killing spending binge" will be a "top priority" for the new Republican majority in the House of Representatives when lawmakers return for the start of the 112th Congress in January. "We have already banned earmarks and made a pledge to America to end the practice of omnibus bills like this disgrace and cut spending to pre-‘stimulus,’ pre-bailout levels. Instead of making reckless spending decisions in the waning days of the lame-duck session, Senate Democrats should stand down so we can get to work on cleaning up Washington’s fiscal mess.”

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell echoed Boehner's sentiments Tuesday during a press conference in which he remarked the battle over the pork-laden bill is "eerily similar" to the divisive battle over spending last year:

RedState is in the process of dissecting the newly released omnibus bill; here's a sampling of some egregious spending projects found so far:

$247,000 - Virus free grapes in Washington State

$413,000 - Peanut research in Alabama

$125,000 - Fishery equipment for the Guam Fisherman’s Cooperative Association

$349,000 - Swine waste management in North Carolina

$277,000 - Potato pest management in Wisconsin

$246,000 - Bovine tuberculosis treatment in Michigan and Minnesota

$522,000 - Cranberry and blueberry disease and breeding in New Jersey

$500,000 - Oyster safety in Florida

$400,000 - Solar parking canopies and plug-in electric stations in Kansas

$165,000 - Maple syrup research in Vermont

Click here to view the full 1,924-page bill.