Staff Reports
The House Republicans are back in action, proving that they can unite when the chips are down, especially when President Trump throws his weight behind a federal funding bill. Despite the usual chaos that comes with legislative negotiations, every Republican in the House stood firm on Tuesday—except for Rep. Thomas Massie from Kentucky. His noncompliance didn’t go unnoticed by Trump, but thankfully for the GOP, a lonely Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, decided to throw a lifeboat to the sinking ship, siding with his colleagues and tipping the scales just enough for a narrow victory with a final tally of 217 to 213.
The day marked a unique moment in history: One of the few instances in this decade where Democrats almost unanimously endorsed a government shutdown, courtesy of their own leaders’ endless political games. The legislation that passed is just a fancy name for a short-term funding fix, known as a Continuing Resolution (CR). Now, it heads to the Senate for a nail-biting showdown. To avoid a government shutdown, the Senate has until Friday, March 14, to get its act together and give this bill the green light.
This vote was a significant win for President Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana. Gone are the days when some Republicans wouldn’t touch a CR with a ten-foot pole. Even those who had previously sworn off such measures decided to jump on the bandwagon, perhaps realizing that the alternative—a Democrat-led government shutdown—would look much worse for the party. It’s almost as if they listened to Trump’s veteran wisdom, which is always a smart play when trying to rally the troops.
Representative Eric Burlison of Missouri was among those who begrudgingly backed the resolution, crediting Trump’s influence as the deciding factor. He openly acknowledged his discomfort yet swayed by Trump’s leadership. Let’s be honest here: it’s not like anyone enjoys supporting a CR, but when the other side is likely to pin the blame for a shutdown on the GOP, tough choices have to be made to protect the party’s image. Florida’s Rep. Greg Steube echoed this sentiment, admitting that he had always been against CRs but feels compelled to provide Trump and the party time to construct a solid budget.
They better deliver a fiscal miracle with the reconciliation bill. Massie being right won’t fare well for Republicans in the midterms. https://t.co/H1Jh1jREPw
— Jenna Ellis 🐊 (@realJennaEllis) March 12, 2025
Speaker Johnson wasted no time in heralding the vote as a big win, noting that House Democrats had seemingly switched playbooks faster than a quarterback in a two-minute drill. His comments suggest a clear divide—the Democrats’ past rants against government shutdowns ringing hollow now that Trump is back in play. With the stakes heightened, Johnson warned Senate Democrats that they would carry the blame if the government shuts down due to their inaction. The pressure is now on them to choose wisely, as the Republicans stand ready to remind them of their choices at every opportunity.
However, the House victory doesn’t guarantee that the legislation will cruise through the Senate. Republican Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky has already pledged his opposition, and without the backing of at least eight Democrats, the GOP could be staring down the barrel of a government shutdown. The budget plan sets ambitious goals: $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, $2 trillion in spending cuts, and some serious investment in immigration enforcement and defense. The ball is firmly in the Senate’s court, and it will be interesting to see if they can muster the courage to follow suit or if they will let partisan division bring the government to a grinding halt.
