March 22 Minibus Leaves Out Nearly All of the New Poison Pills

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Clean Budget Coalition today congratulated Congress on removing nearly all of the House GOP’s 560+ new poison pill policy riders from the package of six funding bills due today, clearing the way for final passage and the beginning of the FY 25 budget cycle.

Even though virtually all of the legacy riders from past budget cycles remained, only two new poison pills were added to the March 22 minibus. The previous minibus containing the other six annual appropriations bills passed on March 8 and included only four new poison pills. 

“That so few poison pills became law after we were threatened with so many is a big victory for ordinary Americans and for common sense in the annual budget process,” said Lisa Gilbert, executive vice president of Public Citizen and co-chair of the Clean Budget Coalition. “Spending bills are no place for attacks on women’s reproductive rights, our democracy, our environment, communities of color, LGBTQ+ Americans, and more. The Clean Budget Coalition is extremely grateful to all the lawmakers – especially the appropriators and caucus leaders – who fought for well over a year to remove the extreme and harmful riders that never belonged in the first place.”

The Clean Budget Coalition will continue to oppose poison pill riders in the upcoming FY 25 spending packages and is vowing to fight for the removal of several dozen legacy riders that have accumulated over the years.