Congressman Tom Price (R-GA) called on President Barack Obama to live up to his campaign promise to eliminate wasteful Washington spending after failing to issue his first veto for the pork-filled omnibus package. The $410 billion spending bill provides the second-largest increase in discretionary spending in the last three decades. Unsurprisingly, it is filled with billions of dollars in wasteful spending, including earmarks. During the campaign, President Obama promised to “go line by line to make sure we are not spending money unwisely.”

“It’s time for President Obama to finally make good on his campaign promises,” said Congressman Price. “For months and months we heard candidate Obama tell us about the need to stop wasteful spending and reign in government waste. As president, his actions have failed to follow through on his words.

“The President’s brief term has been characterized by reckless government spending. The bill that he signed is just another pork-filled spending package that wastes taxpayer money. The White House is quick to brush aside tough choices with platitudes about looking to the future, but the American people demand fiscal restraint now. America cannot afford this irresponsible big-spending agenda.

“The President had the opportunity to change his administration’s tone and set an example for his own party in Congress. I hope he will finally follow through on his campaign promises, veto future wasteful spending bills, and restore some semblance of fiscal responsibility in Washington.”