As Americans struggle with inflation, Biden approves a major government spending bill.
The federal government's budget bill totaling 1.7 trillion dollars was approved by US President Joe Biden on Thursday.
Washington, U.S. | BAZZUP | The federal government’s budget bill totaling 1.7 trillion dollars was approved by US President Joe Biden on Thursday.
The law will prevent a partial shutdown before the end of 2022 and keep the federal government open through the end of the federal financial year in September 2023.
The huge fiscal year 2023 expenditure plan includes 858 billion for defense spending and 772.5 billion for domestic, non-defense programs.
A 45 billion dollar emergency fund is also provided for Ukraine in the midst of its protracted confrontation with Russia.
The omnibus package, which has more than 4,000 pages, was opposed by hundreds of US senators, the most of whom are Republicans. Many of them expressed concern that it may increase inflation in the nation.
The annual inflation rate for the United States is 7.1 percent for the 12 months ended November 2022, according to U.S. Labor Department data published earlier this month.
A majority of Americans — 55 percent — say rising prices have caused financial hardship for their household, a Gallup survey showed.
“Congress can’t keep running up the tab and leaving taxpayers to pay the bill,” U.S. Congressman Ben Cline from Virginia tweeted last week.
“We must start living within our means, just like families have to do every day — not spend more than we can afford,” Cline said. “Americans deserve better than this omnibus.”
