Staff Reports
Politicians are masters of making a mess, and the latest budget debacle in the House is no exception. President-elect Donald Trump, not one to sit idly while Washington plays its usual games, swooped in at the last minute and significantly trimmed a bloated 1,547-page spending bill that included a whopping 47% pay increase for Congress, among other gift baskets full of Democratic priorities. The final product, a mere 116 pages, showcased a small victory for conservative fiscal responsibility, but ultimately, the failure to pass even this scaled-back version exposes an entrenched stubbornness within the lower chamber that seems to relish in its own dysfunction.
The House made its decision to reject the newly revised bill with a rather uninspiring 174 to 235 vote. As the clock ticked toward a potential government shutdown, the question arose: would Congress manage to deliver a third iteration? While the original bill contained provisions that would have allowed Congress to dodge accountability for its decisions—coupled with a refreshing extension of the federal censorship operation—this time around, it was the tightrope-walking skills of House Speaker Mike Johnson that came under scrutiny as conservatives began to question if he might be in over his head.
A spending bill backed by Donald Trump failed in the US House of Representatives as dozens of Republicans defied the president-elect, leaving Congress with no clear plan to avert a fast-approaching government shutdown that could disrupt Christmas travel https://t.co/9YqrExXhCM pic.twitter.com/1PmuaT2Fdz
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 20, 2024
Trump was more than just a backseat driver in these negotiations; his involvement came after considerable pressure from incoming Department of Government Efficiency co-chiefs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. They both took to social media to spotlight what they deemed to be outrageous items that would benefit nobody but Washington insiders. This kind of public shaming might just be what it takes to get lawmakers to wake up, but it also underscored a palpable discontent brewing within the conservative ranks regarding Johnson’s handling of spending negotiations.
It didn’t take long for Trump and his cohort Vice President-elect JD Vance to throw some not-so-subtle shade at Johnson. The two zeroed in on what they considered the pitfalls of the proposed bill, pointing out how it would essentially bolster the very swamp that serves the interests of a privileged few. This is classic political theater—just when it seemed that Johnson had put together a compromise, his act was met with rolling eyes and crossed arms from the very party he was trying to lead. Any support he might have enjoyed evaporated faster than a Chicago politician at a taxpayer-funded party.
Meanwhile, as Trump’s criticism echoed in the halls of Congress, whispers of alternatives for leadership began to circulate. With House members already suggesting that Johnson’s time might be up, thoughts of replacing him were floating around like confetti at a particularly raucous celebration. Members were keen on changes that would shake things up and ensure that the House would remain a platform for conservative values rather than a stage for the tired act of compromising with the left.
As the dust settles on this latest episode of “How to Not Pass a Bill,” the future of the House Republican leadership looks murky at best. Can Johnson regain the trust of his party? That’s a tall order, especially when voters are clamoring for genuine fiscal restraint and a clear break from the establishment’s penchant for waste. With Trump hovering in the background and wading into the fray, the upcoming leadership battles promise to be as entertaining as they are crucial for the future direction of the party.
