alt Hacker NewsWell the popular argument is that it takes so long to pass any kind of bill that smaller bills would just mean more bills and a bigger backlog. I don't really buy that.
The real reason is that it's easy to sneak stuff into a bill, so why not? That and trying to attack political opponents by joining something politically disastrous to <their side> to an otherwise uncontroversial bill.
Yes; it wouldn't take so long if bills were simple, straightforward and easy to understand. Instead they're rubberband balls of horse traded, full of items that as you said someone has tried to 'sneak' in.
I wish our parties didn't view each other as opponents as much as collaboration partners ultimately responsible for the continued well being of the nation rather than only for their own political good.