Staff Reports
President-elect Donald Trump is making his disdain for House Speaker Mike Johnson’s sprawling 1,547-page spending bill abundantly clear. His administration’s sound bites indicate that the era of “spend like there’s no tomorrow” might finally meet its demise, at least if the crackling discontent among conservatives is any indication. The bill, which aims to stave off a government shutdown, has effectively become the piñata of the GOP, with everyone taking swings at the candy-filled folly it represents.
Trump and incoming Vice President JD Vance are taking aim at the bill for its myriad of unsavory provisions. Among these are hefty pay raises for Congress—because why shouldn’t those who already earn a cushy salary during economic troubles have everything handed to them on a silver platter? The bill also offers leniency to members of the infamous January 6 committee, allowing them to dodge congressional subpoenas, while simultaneously extending a shady censorship agency within the State Department. Convenient, isn’t it?
🔥@GarrettHaake just spoke to President Elect Trump minutes ago and he was asked if he had faith in Speaker Mike Johnson still to which Trump replied “WE WILL SEE” and he was clearly VERY UNHAPPY with CR-Bill. Trump also said the Debt ceiling is a “Psychological Tool” that needs… pic.twitter.com/xoUuEPOzSA
— Johnny St.Pete (@JohnMcCloy) December 19, 2024
The Trump team demands a clean funding bill, free of what they’ve dubbed “Democrat giveaways” and “sweetheart provisions” that seem to be catered more toward Congress’s self-interest than the American taxpayer. They are scratching their heads, perhaps with a touch of humor and disbelief, at Congress asking for pay increases while millions struggle to make ends meet during the festive season. If there’s ever been a time for fiscal restraint, it’s now, but that seems to fly over the heads of some in the Capitol.
The gavel has also been heard from notable voices outside the typical conservative sphere. Tesla honcho Elon Musk joins the fray, suggesting that any lawmaker daring to vote for this bloated monstrosity deserves to hit the campaign trail for re-election a little early. It raises eyebrows when Musk, known more for electric vehicles than political crusades, takes such a staunch stand on congressional responsibility, but such is the current climate. Members who dare to go along with the spending bill have been labeled “the swamp” by those seeking to drain it.
Within the army of conservatives, there’s a growing consensus that perhaps, just maybe, this discontent signals a shift in the wind. Rep. Andy Biggs suggests this turmoil indicates Republicans might be ready to reset the status quo and move toward a clean continuing resolution— a term that some Republicans seem to find more comfortable than “omnibus bill,” which has become synonymous with profligate spending and political backroom deals. There’s muttering throughout the ranks about the mandate received back in November, suggesting Americans are tired of the theatrics and want their government to stop playing games.
As for the provisions hidden within the bill? They read like a laundry list of why the American public has every right to demand better. Pay raises for Congress, a convenient exemption from Obamacare that regular Americans don’t receive, and funding for biocontainment laboratories that seems more like a boondoggle than a public health necessity. And amid all the chaos, the extension of the Global Engagement Center, a poster child for government overreach into censorship, continues to loom large like an unwelcome houseguest.
In a nutshell, Trump’s rejection of Johnson’s bill may not just be intended to shake things up; it’s a clarion call for a fundamental rethink of how Congress handles taxpayer money. With whispers of a potential shift in fiscal policy, conservatives are left wondering if this moment is the opportunity to break free from the shackles of a big-spending culture that has long dominated Washington. The hope seems to be that this is the beginning of a new path, one where Congress, instead of crafting self-serving bills, actually represents the people they work for. Whether this is merely a fleeting glimmer of hope or the start of a true turning point remains to be seen.
