(DailyAnswer.org) – House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is juggling a storm of opposition as House Republicans struggle to pass a spending bill to avoid a government shutdown. Conservatives in both chambers of Congress, joined by high-profile figures like Elon Musk, have rejected the proposed deal, leaving lawmakers scrambling for a backup plan.
The disagreement began with a bipartisan bill aimed at extending government funding through March 2024. The proposal included $100 billion for disaster relief, $10 billion for farmers, and even funds for revitalizing Washington, D.C.’s RFK Stadium. However, critics in the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus balked at what they called “unrelated policy riders” being tacked on at the last minute.
Elon Musk weighed in heavily, calling the bill “outrageous” and suggesting that any lawmaker supporting it should be ousted. He went further, urging Republicans to embrace a partial government shutdown rather than approve what he described as reckless spending. Meanwhile, President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance also opposed the bill, advocating for a different approach involving an increased debt limit.
As of this week, the national debt has climbed to a staggering $36 trillion and continues to grow. The budget deficit for the last fiscal year stood at $1.8 trillion—the third-largest in U.S. history—fueling conservative outrage over the perceived lack of fiscal restraint.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise confirmed that the original deal was dead, with no new agreements reached. Late-night meetings in Speaker Johnson’s office aimed to hash out a “skinny” spending package that could win support. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., hinted that the new plan might include limited disaster aid and agricultural subsidies.
Appearing on Fox & Friends, Johnson defended his leadership and strategy. He argued that, with Republicans holding just one-third of federal power, the proposed compromise was a “conservative play call.” He pledged to push for smaller government and stricter spending cuts in the next Congress.
Democrats, however, accuse Republicans of recklessness. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries warned that breaking the bipartisan agreement could harm working Americans and lead to chaos.
As Friday’s deadline looms, the House faces a critical question: Will they rally behind a compromise or risk plunging the government into partial shutdown? One thing is clear—this fight is far from over.
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