U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., today slammed the massive $1.4 trillion spending bill, calling it one of the most "grotesque" pieces of legislation he can remember during his two terms in the Senate.
Earlier today, the House easily approved the measure handing huge spending increases to defense programs and domestic initiatives ranging from road-building to biomedical research.
Thursday's vote was 256-167. That shipped the 2,232-page package to the Senate.
Passage there is assured. But some Republican senators upset that the measure spends too much could delay the bill. The question is whether it will be approved before midnight Friday night.
Corker, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, was among the critics.
"I could not be more discouraged about where we are today with our adult leadership here in Congress and at the White House," he said from the Senate floor. "This is one of the most grotesque pieces of legislation I can remember. [It is] grotesque that we would pass a piece of legislation that would set the standard for $2 trillion in deficit spending, not offset.
If the measure isn't passed by the deadline, it would force the year's third government shutdown. That would likely be brief, but still embarrass Republicans controlling the White House and Congress.
The bill provides just $1.6 billion to start building pieces of President Donald Trump's wall with Mexico and for other border security steps. But it doesn't temporarily extend protections against deportation for young Dreamer immigrants.