Staff Reports
House Republicans have decided to bury a poorly thought-out stopgap spending bill after President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance made a clarion call for a “clean continuing resolution” free from Democrat handouts. In a definitive demonstration of how to lead from the front, Trump and Vance urged fellow Republicans to challenge Democrats and not fold under pressure — a lesson that could save taxpayers a few headaches and a lot of cash.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise confirmed the proposed deal was as good as dead, which is quite the feat for legislation that was somehow over 1,500 pages long. Scalise remarked that negotiations were continuing and, ironically, given the length of the bill, one could surmise this was more of a thriller than a financial strategy. The crux of the situation is that this plan had more holes than Swiss cheese and seemed more interested in fattening the wallets of Congress than actually serving the American people.
Updated: GOP leaders toss budget bill after Trump, Vance call for clean CR 'without Democrat giveaways' https://t.co/sG2HhY0sxV
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) December 19, 2024
During a productive chat with House Speaker Mike Johnson, Vance expressed cautious optimism but didn’t give any details—probably because one can’t negotiate in the dark if their proposal looks like it was scribbled on the back of a napkin. The House was set to vote on this legislation on Thursday, but logic prevailed as Trump and Vance rallied the troops to reconsider their approach and put on some political armor.
Trump didn’t pull any punches, delivering a blistering critique of the spendthrift proposal that resembled a three-ring circus more than responsible governance. The statement underlined that allowing the country to hit the debt ceiling was a lackluster oversight by Congressional Republicans, and it absolutely needed to be addressed — preferably without tossing taxpayers into the budget meat grinder first.
This continuing resolution faced major backlash, particularly because it would have thrown more cash at Congress while average Americans are left wondering how they’ll make ends meet this holiday season. Beyond that, the bill reportedly sought to cover up the blunders of the infamous January 6 committee, showcasing how political priorities often take precedence over genuine accountability.
As the countdown to a potential government shutdown draws near, Trump and Vance have called for Republicans to flex some muscle and call the Democrats’ bluff. They argued that if the left threatens a shutdown unless they get their way, it’s time for GOP leaders to hold their ground and not give in to the demands. Prediction is in the air as Congressman Andy Biggs posits that if the proposed bill gets tossed, a clean continuing resolution could emerge without all the usual trappings that come with it.
It seems the GOP is regrouping and preparing to play hardball, and if all goes well, taxpayers may just find themselves breathing a lighter sigh of relief this Christmas — rather than choking on a sizable debt increase wrapped in a shiny, overambitious legislative package.
