Omnibus bill update; the real big spenders in Washington may surprise you

Does anyone in Washington work for their constituents anymore?

When asked to comment on the so-called stimulus bill in February, Republican Senator Arlen Specter (PA) had this to say to CSPAN reporters.

"Congratulations to my colleagues... for taking on a job which, judging by the telephone calls I've been receiving, is a very unpopular one; but I think a very necessary one.  I believe my duty is to follow my conscience and vote what I think is in the best interest of the country."

What he thinks is in the best interest of the country?  What happened to listening to his contituents and voting on their behalf?  According to the Constitution, which Sen. Specter his colleagues have sworn an oath to uphold, our elected officials are on Capital Hill to represent us. 

When asked a few weeks ago about the president's thoughts on the earmarks in the bill, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said,

"There is great concern in this building and by the president about earmarks," Gibbs said. "Without having looked specifically at a piece of legislation, I'm hesitant to throw out that four-letter word, 'Veto.'"

In other words, President Obama, who is scheduled to sign the bill into law sometime Wednesday, hadn't yet read the document of 1,132 pages.  No word on whether or not the very busy president has had time to read this bill after being ridiculed over not reading his own stimulus package.

Not much has changed in the last month, except the federal deficit.  Democrats and Republicans alike threw all fiscal caution to the wind and sent a bill to President Obama's desk that is nothing more than a very expensive pet project free-for-all with seemingly no regard for consequences with which they have burdened their constiuents.

Tonight, the Senate passed, with a 62-35 majority, the $410 Omnibus spending bill.  Listed below are some notable earmarks among the 8,570 included in the bill.

Here's a breakdown of the top 20 earmarking senators and the value of their solo earmarks as reported by Fox News:

1) Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va. -- $122,804,900 

2) Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala. -- $114,484,250 

3) Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo. -- $85,691,491 

4) Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. -- $76,899,425 

5) Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss. -- $75,908,475 

6) Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska -- $74,000,750 

7) Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa -- $66,860,000 

8) Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla. -- $53,133,500 

9) Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. -- $51,186,000 

10) Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii -- $46,380,205 

11) Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. -- $39,228,250 

12) Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D. -- $36,547,100 

13) Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt. -- $36,161,125 

14) Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. -- $35,577,250 

15) Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa. -- $27,169,750 

16) Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev. -- $26,628,613 

17) Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa. -- $25,320,000 

18) Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis. -- $23,832,000 

19) Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. -- $21,952,250 

20) Former Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M. -- $19,588,625

For those of us who are not on the liberal, do-whatever-they want-because-they-won team; and for those of us who also consider ourselves fiscally conservative, we officially have no voice in our nation's capital.  If ever there were a time for a third party, this is it.

Above photo of Press Secretary Robert Gibbs from the APWhite House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs quiets a reporters lighthearted comment about earmarks during the daily briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, March 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)