Staff Reports
Donald Trump’s presidency is set to kick off with a bang—or rather, a budgetary bombshell. Thanks to the latest spending bill that, in true bipartisan fashion, has ensured that the government remains open until March 14, 2025, Trump will inherit what some are already calling a “big mess.” Sure, the Democrats are patting themselves on the back for keeping the lights on, but someone should tell them that just because the lights are on doesn’t mean there’s food in the fridge.
This well-timed legislation was a collaborative effort, with the House giving its stamp of approval on Friday before the Senate played the role of the approving parent on Saturday. As if falling into the familiar trap of kicking the can down the road wasn’t enough, those negotiating sessions earlier this year with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and President Biden led to a spending plan resembling a buffet table piled high with leftovers. The rhetoric from the mainstream media might imply Trump has a substantial challenge ahead with funding deadlines and a debt ceiling, but perhaps a more pressing concern is dealing with all the leftover frippery in the budget.
On the bright side, it seems nobody wants to admit their embarrassment about the spending bill. The Democrats stuck together like they were campaigning for a new reality show, with all but one voting in favor. Even on the Republican side, it was a mixed bag with 170 willing to back the bill, even as 34 took a principled stand against it. At least they can all agree that avoiding an immediate shutdown is preferable—even at the price of an absurdly drawn-out fiscal timeline. It’s like agreeing to pay your credit card bill but extending the due date to 2025, all while just hoping that a magical solution appears.
Then enters Trump and his sidekick, Vice President-elect JD Vance, swooping in at the last moment to salvage the situation. Amidst high drama, they reportedly insisted on scrapping the extra “pork” the Democrats had tucked into the bill, as if it were all part of a desperate strategy to win votes. This fixation on wasteful spending seems to be a common thread, as if the government were participating in a particularly dull reality show entitled “Who’s Got the Most Pork?” The pressure to find a way to address the looming debt limit also looms large, like that guest who just won’t leave after the party’s over.
I'm delighted Trump won, but our MAGA coalition didn't get our job done & vote in more republican House members.
We also left 3 republican senate candidates dead on the field of battle.
What's Mike to do with a one vote lead in the House?https://t.co/borxFDQBqk
— Daniel F. Baranowski (@DFBHarvard) December 22, 2024
Senator Ron Johnson made headlines by calling out the obvious misstep of extending government funding out to 2025, labeling it as “kind of stupid.” No argument there. Adding to the chaos, Rep. Andy Barr suggests that Trump’s administration would benefit from a more robust “overcommunication” strategy. Sounds like they are already planning for a long game of telephone, with everyone from House members to the Senate majority leader being put on notice to keep the conversation lively. One can only hope that they can paint a clearer picture than the current mess suggests.
Despite comments from various lawmakers indicating they are ready to roll up their sleeves, there’s enough uncertainty and trepidation to fill a semi-trailer. There appears to be a consensus that the Republican Party has a “big mess” to tackle. Instead of waiting for hats and confetti to descend from the ceiling, all eyes will be on what the Trump administration can do to clean house amid the budgetary remnant left by their predecessors. If nothing else, this should provide some entertainment for conservative viewers who are always on the lookout for the next big political episode. Grab the popcorn; things are about to get interesting.
