Republicans are bristling at Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) over the 1,547-page spending deal released mere days ahead of the deadline, full of pork and disappointment.
The continuing resolution (CR) released Tuesday night — negotiated on the GOP side by Johnson — includes tens of billions of dollars in waste and includes funding for controversial items, including a pay raise for members of Congress as well as a one-year extension of the State Department’s Global Engagement Center (GEC), which funds organizations that censor conservative media including Breitbart News.
Many conservative members of Congress are shocked at what they are finding in the monstrosity.
“I’ve been informed that @SpeakerJohnson blocked RECA reauthorization from being included in the CR,” Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) said. “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 continued, 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 asked.
I’ve been informed that @SpeakerJohnson blocked RECA reauthorization from being included in the CR.
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) December 18, 2024
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…
Don’t pass the omnibus masquerading as a CR! https://t.co/sWZsi2qlJo
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) December 18, 2024
“I had hoped to see @SpeakerJohnson grow a spine, but this bill full of pork shows he is a weak, weak man,” Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said.
“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,” he added.
I had hoped to see @SpeakerJohnson grow a spine, but this bill full of pork shows he is a weak, weak man.
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 18, 2024
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) said Johnson “personally killed a bipartisan, bicameral expansion + spending cap RECA deal.”
“It was him alone,” he said, placing the blame squarely on Johnson. “BUT he’s willing to spend BILLIONS on Ukraine and foreign wars and every pork barrel project known to man.”
He concluded that Johnson simply goes along with the lobbyists.
.@SpeakerJohnson 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 https://t.co/7QD7orzVUI
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) December 18, 2024
This is the correct answer https://t.co/arCSVfF169
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) December 18, 2024
“The American people just delivered President Trump and congressional Republicans a decisive mandate,” Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) noted. “So why did our House Republican leadership negotiate the spending bill like we lost?”
The American people just delivered President Trump and congressional Republicans a decisive mandate.
— Rep. Andrew Clyde (@Rep_Clyde) December 18, 2024
So why did our House Republican leadership negotiate the spending bill like we lost?
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) offered his critique in a more seasonal form:
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.
‘Twas three days before the gov't shutdown
— Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS (@RepGosar) December 18, 2024
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) said. “I will be voting NO.”
So Congress is failing the American people AGAIN and giving themselves a raise in the process?
— Rep. Eli Crane (@RepEliCrane) December 18, 2024
Can’t make this stuff up.
I will be voting NO. https://t.co/qKB5SQyTPk
“Another lump of coal for the American people courtesy of the Swamp,” Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) said, making it clear that he is a no on the measure.
“The American people voted to stop runaway spending, and I stand with them,” he added as more reactions poured in.
Another lump of coal for the American people courtesy of the Swamp.
— Rep. Tom Tiffany (@RepTiffany) December 18, 2024
I’m a NO on the massive 1,500+ page omnibus.
The American people voted to stop runaway spending, and I stand with them.
The first 9 pages of this Continuing Resolution are all we need to keep the government open; the other 1,500+ pages are a handbook on how the government plans to waste your tax dollars for a bit.
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) December 18, 2024
We need to start calling these stop gap spending bills “continuing delusions.”
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) December 18, 2024
How can DC ever plan to balance the budget when it just keeps spending?
Update - The garbage CR has been released at the very last minute.
— Rep. Eric Burlison (@RepEricBurlison) December 18, 2024
Over 1,500 pages.
Deadline is Friday.
How can anyone read and understand this entire thing, much less vote for it in good conscience?! https://t.co/7cx4CHop45 https://t.co/P5YNsDhvtw
I have a suspicion that lawmakers won't actually read the text. https://t.co/lKJoPLMQI2
— Rep. Eli Crane (@RepEliCrane) December 18, 2024
This bill should not pass https://t.co/eccQ6COZJ4
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 18, 2024
I wanted to read the full 1,500+ page bill & speak with key leaders before forming an opinion. Having done that, here's my view: it's full of excessive spending, special interest giveaways & pork barrel politics. If Congress wants to get serious about government efficiency, they…
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) December 18, 2024
People call me "NostraThomas" for accurately predicting @SpeakerJohnson would use the Christmas recess to force a massive spending bill through Congress.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) December 18, 2024
After claiming he would not, Johnson is embracing a D.C. tradition that's nearly as old as decorating Christmas trees. pic.twitter.com/TRd1ZiCXtc