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Frustration is mounting among Republican lawmakers towards Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) due to the recently unveiled 1,547-page spending bill. The massive spending deal, negotiated by Johnson, has evoked dismay from conservatives as it contains billions in wasteful spending and allocates funds for contentious initiatives mere days before the deadline.
One provision generating backlash is a pay raise for members of Congress, while another extends the State Department’s Global Engagement Center (GEC) for a year. The GEC has drawn criticism for funding organizations that censor conservative media outlets like Breitbart News.
ABSOLUTELY. I’ve never trusted Mike Johnson! “Speaker Johnson Is Living In La La Land” says Steve Bannon. @Bannons_WarRoom
pic.twitter.com/KbJWoE5JC8— NanLee Marie Carissimi (@NanLee1124) December 18, 2024
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) expressed his disappointment, stating, “I’ve been informed that @SpeakerJohnson blocked RECA reauthorization from being included in the CR. I worked with the entire Utah delegation and many others in Congress—including @RepMaloyUtah, @KyrstenSinema, and @HawleyMO—to craft a compromise measure that expands and preserves benefits for Americans hurt by government nuclear testing, mining, and waste storage.”
“Just today, Speaker Johnson said that the Continuing Resolution needed to contain disaster relief for families still suffering from the impact of hurricanes Helene and Milton. An understandable concern!” he continued. “But now we’re told that a bill full of handouts from The Uniparty™️ to The Swamp™️ doesn’t have room to compensate people suffering from radiation exposure and other ailments *caused by our own government*,” he added, calling it “outrageous.”
“Why are victims of our own government’s nuclear testing being forced take a backseat to The Uniparty™️ and The Swamp™️?” he questioned.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) criticized Johnson’s leadership, saying, “I had hoped to see @SpeakerJohnson grow a spine, but this bill full of pork shows he is a weak, weak man. The debt will continue to grow. Ultimately the dollar will fail. Democrats are clueless and Big Gov Republicans are complicit. A sad day for America.”
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MI) directly blamed Johnson for impeding a bipartisan deal, stating, “He personally killed a bipartisan, bicameral expansion + spending cap RECA deal. It was him alone. BUT he’s willing to spend BILLIONS on Ukraine and foreign wars and every pork barrel project known to man.” Hawley concluded that Johnson simply acquiesces to lobbyists.
Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) questioned the negotiation strategy, noting, “The American people just delivered President Trump and congressional Republicans a decisive mandate. So why did our House Republican leadership negotiate the spending bill like we lost?”
Congress is racing to force through a massive amount of wasteful spending in the next three days.
President Trump’s hands will be tied by the Impoundment Control Act, passed in 1974 to sabotage Richard Nixon from cutting spending.
I want to repeal it. pic.twitter.com/L13MBKVpn5
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) December 17, 2024
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) offered his critique poetically:
“Twas three days before the gov’t shutdown
And I’m at my desk
On page 54 of this 1,547 page mess.
The CR is garbage
Chocked full of carnage.
I’ll be a hard no
I won’t stoop that low.”
“So Congress is failing the American people AGAIN and giving themselves a raise in the process? Can’t make this stuff up,” Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) remarked, confirming his opposition by stating, “I will be voting NO.”
Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) echoed the sentiment, calling it “Another lump of coal for the American people courtesy of the Swamp,” and asserting, “The American people voted to stop runaway spending, and I stand with them.”
