Listen To Story Above
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) expressed his frustration with the current spending deal situation during his appearance on Breitbart News Daily, emphasizing that Democrats maintain significant leverage due to their media support and the need for their votes to pass a continuing resolution.
“But this is insanity dysfunction here,” he remarked about the original spending deal. “But unfortunately, the Democrats hold all the cards.”
"If it passes, it will pass without my vote."
— Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson will not support the continuing resolution to keep the government funded@SenRonJohnson @LidiaNews pic.twitter.com/t8Vx0M7vST
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) December 18, 2024
Johnson explained that the Democrats’ advantage stems largely from their relationship with mainstream media outlets, which he believes will inevitably blame Republicans for any government shutdown, despite Democratic resistance to implementing reasonable financial restrictions.
“They have all the leverage, because the legacy corporate media is always on their side. No matter how much they’re at fault or resisting some reasonable fiscal controls when we stop mortgaging our kids’ future, if government shuts down, the Republicans are gonna get blamed. So from my standpoint, just avoid it, but don’t load up continuing resolutions with a bunch of crap,” Johnson stated.
The Wisconsin senator elaborated on the Democrats’ position of strength, noting that Speaker Johnson faces a challenging situation because some House Republicans refuse to support any form of continuing resolution, making Democratic votes essential for passage.
“We have Republicans that simply will not vote for a continuing resolution. … They’re just utterly opposed to it. And so he needs some Democrat votes in the House. I don’t envy Speaker Johnson’s position,” he noted.
Despite acknowledging these difficulties, Johnson suggested an alternative approach. Rather than engaging in private negotiations with Democrats, he advocated for greater transparency and public communication about Republican objectives.
The debt limit is the only leverage we have against big spenders in both parties to reduce the size, scope, and cost of government and stop mortgaging our children’s future.
We need to convince President Trump to embrace that leverage and use his negotiating skills to do just… pic.twitter.com/W9ginLi8G8
— Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) December 20, 2024
According to Johnson, the Speaker should openly declare intentions to pass a straightforward continuing resolution that maintains previous year’s spending levels without additional provisions. He emphasized the importance of winning public support through clear communication about Republican fiscal responsibility goals.
The senator, drawing from his business background, stressed the need to effectively communicate the Republican agenda of preventing national bankruptcy and protecting future generations’ financial interests, while also avoiding government shutdowns. He concluded that this straightforward approach would resonate more effectively with the public.
