Ending Omnibus Bills

Join the Debate

Many people express frustration and concern over omnibus bills, primarily due to hidden provisions. These bills are often massive, running thousands of pages, making thorough review by lawmakers difficult before voting. “Pork-barrel spending” in these bills benefits a small group rather than the public at large. The inclusion of numerous unrelated provisions can make it hard for the public to understand what is being funded and why. Most view these bills as a way for politicians to push through controversial or unpopular measures by bundling them with essential funding, making it difficult to oppose without risking a government shutdown. Despite these criticisms, some lawmakers argue that omnibus bills are necessary to ensure the government remains funded and operational. Here at TPA, we believe these bills include excessive unnecessary spending, contribute to the national debt, and must be discontinued. We propose this new legislation for you to consider and improve before forwarding it for introduction to Congress.

Single-Subject Legislation Act

Section 1. Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to ensure that each piece of legislation addresses only one subject or purpose, thereby promoting transparency, accountability, and clarity in the legislative process.

Section 2. Single-Subject Requirement

(a) Single Subject Rule: Each bill or act introduced in the legislature shall embrace only one subject or purpose, which shall be clearly expressed in its title.

(b) Prohibition of Omnibus Bills: No bill or act shall contain multiple unrelated provisions or subjects. Any provision not germane to the single subject or purpose of the bill shall be considered void

Section 3. Enforcement

(a) Review and Compliance: The legislative counsel shall review each bill or act to ensure compliance with the single-subject requirement before it is introduced.

(b) Judicial Review: Any person or entity may challenge the validity of a bill or act on the grounds that it violates the single-subject requirement. If a court finds that a bill or act contains multiple subjects, the court shall invalidate the entire bill or act.

Section 4. Severability

If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the remainder of the Act, and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.

Section 5. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect immediately upon its enactment.