Being able to search that Omnibus spending bill provides all kinds of different ways of analyzing the $515.7 billion monstrosity. For example, a ranking of how many times the names of senators appear in the 3,500+ pages document gives an interesting insight into the degree to which they influenced the content of the measure.
While the vast majority of such appearances are in connection with specific appropriations, thereare some minor exceptions. One example would be “Clinton,” which can either denote the junior senator from New York or the city of the same name.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY, tops the list with his last name appearing 323 times. Next comes Sen. Patty Murray, D-WA, with 310 appearances and in third is Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, with 301 appearances. Interesting that despite the distractions of the presidential campaign trail, Clinton ‘s name is literally all over the omnibus spending bill.
Looking at the rest, we find in fourth, fifth and eighth the only Republicans in the top 10. These are Sen. Arlen Specter, R-PA, (285), Sen. Thad Cochran, R-MS, (242), and Sen. Richard Shelby, R-AL, (217). Senate Armed Services Committtee Chairman Carl Levin, D-MI, is fifth with 237, followed by Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-CA, with 234, Sen. Blance Lincoln, D-AR, with 215 and Sen. Deborah Stabenow, D-MI, in a tie with Sen. Robert Menendez , D-NJ, with 208.
There are a total of 40 senators whose name appears at least 100 times in the omnibus spending bill. The remaining 29 include:
Cantwell 206
Lautenberg 200
Domenici 191
Johnson 191
Landrieu 187
Harkin 186
Nelson 182
Kennedy 182
Mikulski 177
Bond 177
Bingamon 174
Grassley 167
Salazar 162
Hutchinson 161
Webb 155
Cardin 155
Dole 151
Casey 144
Stevens 144
Durbin 141
Inouye 125
Allard 120
Kohl 119
Byrd 111
Pryor 107
Kerry 105
Martinez 105
Chambliss 104
Lugar 103
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