Test blog post

Congress is running out of time to fund the government, and last night, they came to a $1.1 trillion agreement. But they’re not letting this crisis go to waste – the omnibus bill is packed with special interest handouts and riders that would weaken our democracy.  also provides handouts to some of the largest spenders in the 2014 election, like cutting funding for the EPA for big oil companies and including a special provision for gun manufactures proposed by the National Rifle Association, which spent $27.4 million in 2014.

Congress wants to push this spending bill through under cover of darkness – but here’s five major problems in it you should know about:

Helps the Wealthy Buy More Political Power

A provision pushed by Sen. Mitch McConnell would raise the maximum gift lawmakers can solicit from individual donors for their political party from $64,800 to $648,000 — that’s a 900% increase. No wonder they had to sneak it in – the provision is on page 1,599 of 1,603 of the bill. The bill

Blocks Voting Rights in Washington, DC

The nearly 650,000 residents of our nation’s capital – more than live in Vermont or Wyoming — still lack full voting rights and voting representation in Congress. This bill just makes it worse, by prohibiting the District from using its own tax dollars to try to give its citizens a voice in our federal government.

Keeps Dark Money in the Dark

President Obama has the authority to require companies that contract with the federal government to disclose their political contributions – just like he did with the minimum wage. It’s one of the few ways he can curb the dark money flooding our elections without going through Congress, but unsurprisingly, this bill would take away that option. T IRS, which is tasked with keeping an eye on these dark money groups, would also see its budget cut by $345.6 million, the lowest it’s been since 2008

Freezes Funding For Net Neutrality

The Federal Communications Commission gears up to announce historic Open Internet rules in early 2015, but this bill, which would freeze their funding at $340 million, would make that a lot harder. That’s great news for the big telecoms, who gave millions to members of Congress this election– and now, they’re getting their money’s worth..

Pays Back Big Election Spenders

The bill would weaken rules on Wall Street and back upbig banks’ risky bets with federal funds.  Wall Street institutions spent over $435.9 million in the 2014 elections to elect a Congress that works for them – that’s one bet that’s paying off. The bill also cuts the EPA’s funding, which Big Oil is sure to celebrate, and it includes a provision NRA, which spent 27.4 million in 2014, asked for specifically.