NBC reporter Luke Russert said on MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” that the $1 trillion congressional spending deal was a “Christmas list” for “special interests.”
“This is really a Christmas list of special interests,” Russert said, “They’re always tucked in these types of bills, Andrea. And they’re thousands of pages long.”
He noted that the bill appeared to break Speaker of the House John Boehner’s promise to release bills 72 hours before they are voted on. “It was released publicly last night at 8:20 p.m., the House plans on voting on it on Thursday. … It’s three days — Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday — but it surely is not 72 hours.” (RELATED: Public Will Have Little Time To Examine Massive Spending Bill)
Russert predicted that the bill could have trouble passing the House because of Democratic opposition. “John Boehner … needs Democrats in order to pass this. If Nancy Pelosi is saying right now that Democrats should be deeply disturbed by two special interest provisions in this bill, we might have to do some serious counting to the path of 218.” (VIDEO: NBC Reporter: Movement To Keep Boehner From Winning Speakership On First Ballot)
“I’m not saying this is going to go down right now yet,” he cautioned, “but things got a little bit more interesting, Andrea.”