Bush signs omnibus spending bill

WACO, Texas, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- U.S. President George W. Bush Wednesday signed the omnibus spending bill, but chastised Congress for including $10 billion in earmarks in the measure.

In a statement issued after Bush arrived in Texas, where he will spend the remainder of the year, the president said he was "disappointed" Congress had abandoned "the goal I set early this year to reduce the number and cost of earmarks by half."

The bill contains 9,800 earmarks totaling $10 billion, Bush said.

"These projects are not funded through a merit-based process and provide a vehicle for wasteful government spending," he said.

The spending bill was one of more than a dozen Bush signed as he headed from the Camp David presidential retreat to his ranch in Crawford, Texas.

White House spokesman Scott Stanzel told reporters aboard Air Force One the president and Budget Director Jim Nussle are looking for ways to deal with the earmarks.