A new report claims that at least $9 million in earmarks requested by deceased Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) are included in the proposed $1.2 trillion spending package that was released by Congress at 2:30 a.m. on Thursday.
According to The Post Millennial, the $1.2 trillion bipartisan spending bill, which would provide the federal government with funding for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2024, includes at least $9 million in earmarks for multiple projects requested by Feinstein in California.
The Post Millennial noted that while some of the requests were made in conjunction with requests by other senators and representatives, some of the earmarks were solely requested by the deceased senator. The outlet suggested that the inclusion of earmarks requested by a deceased senator could lead to some lawmakers raising questions regarding how the final spending package was put together.
A social media user shared a picture on X, formerly Twitter, of all the earmarks The Post Millennial found that had been requested by the deceased California senator.
The Post Millennial reported that the earmarks, which were published along with the finalized spending package at roughly 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, include funding for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Napa’s Lake Hennessey & Deer Park Fuel Reduction and Community Infrastructure Protection, a California Traditional Food Incubator, UC Davis Health, and other projects requested by the former California senator.
READ MORE: Sen. Dianne Feinstein dies at 90
According to The Washington Post, the $1.2 trillion bipartisan spending bill is expected to pass with widespread support in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, allowing Congress to avoid a government shutdown.
In a speech on Capitol Hill on Thursday, Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) argued that senators, representatives, and the American people should have been given more time to review the $1.2 million spending package before rushing to vote on the legislation just a day after the finalized bill was published.
“I find this very, very disturbing that we couldn’t give the American people and their elected representatives a few more days so they can understand what’s in there,” Lee said.
