In a stunning display of Washington’s broken spending addiction, House leadership attempted to ram through a funding package loaded with “pork.”
The American people watched in disbelief as career politicians scrambled to pass their latest spending scheme. Conservative voices, including President-elect Donald Trump and business leader Elon Musk, attacked the bill.
After pressure from the incoming president, Republicans crafted a cleaner funding bill. The new bill included disaster aid for Americans suffering from recent hurricanes.
It was all but guaranteed that Democrats would reject the bill. Every Republican was needed to pass it and keep the government open.
Yet in a shock move, 38 Republicans tanked it.
From The Post Millennial:
A contentious day in the House over bills to keep the government funded with less than 30 hours before the deadline failed to do just that. After the first pork-filled bill was withdrawn by House Speaker Mike Johnson after a public outcry from President-elect Donald Trump, Vice President-elect JD Vance, Elon Musk, and others, it was replaced with a much smaller spending package. When it was put to the House, the House rejected it.
Republicans Betrayed the President-elect
In a dramatic Thursday night vote that sent shockwaves through the Capitol, 38 House Republicans killed a clean funding bill. Instead of rallying behind the incoming GOP president, they threw Congress into chaos.
The showdown began earlier this week when House Speaker Mike Johnson initially proposed a massive 1,547-page spending package.
That bloated bill quickly drew fierce criticism from conservative leaders, including President-elect Trump who took to Truth Social to demand real fiscal restraint.
“SUCCESS in Washington!” Trump posted after the initial package was withdrawn. “The newly agreed to American Relief Act of 2024 will keep the Government open, fund our Great Farmers and others, and provide relief for those severely impacted.”
Congressmen Put Themselves First
After that initial package crumbled, Speaker Johnson attempted to salvage the situation with a slimmed-down 116-page proposal.
Trump praised the revised package, yet dozens of conservatives refused to support the bill.
Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna blasted the 38 who intend to cripple the government.
“The deal on the table is as-is. You either vote for it, or you vote for the shutdown. But it will not be on the Republican Party.” Those who killed the bill are showing they are not siding with their own party.
The Battle Ahead
The final vote tally – 174 in favor, 235 against – represented the stain that still plagues the GOP.
Only two Democrats crossed party lines to support the measure, meaning it required all Republicans to support it. Those who voted against it sided with Democrats to hang string their party. This only shows Americans that, despite giving the GOP a majority, they are not qualified to run the country.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries predictably attacked the conservative position, calling it “laughable.” He would not have had this ammunition had the party united to get the job done.
As Friday morning dawned, Speaker Johnson indicated that negotiations would continue, telling reporters to “stay tuned.” But it is unknown if these 38 Republicans will agree to any measure, even as the shutdown looms.
Whose Side Are They On?
This latest battle demonstrates that while Republicans scored a huge win in November, not everyone in Congress is MAGA.
Republicans have a chance to shut out Democrats for decades. But only if they can prove to voters they have the ability to restore American greatness.
The American people deserve representatives who will work with Trump to right the wrongs of the D.C. swamp. But when 38 Republicans put themselves ahead of the country, why should Americans trust them?
Key Takeaways:
- 38 Republican representatives tanked a clean spending bill backed by Trump.
- The betrayal makes a crippling government shutdown all the more likely.
- A new bill is proposed, but its passage is uncertain.
Source: The Post Millennial
