Fox News hosts Brian Kilmeade and Lawrence Jones questioned House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday about Republican opposition to Tuesday's massive spending bill to fund the government.
Conservative lawmakers and House Republicans released a 1,574-page continuing resolution (CR) that would extend current government funding levels until mid-March to avoid a partial government shutdown by a Friday night deadline. criticized the leadership. After a video critical of Missouri Republican Rep. Eric Burleson, South Carolina Republican Rep. Ralph Norman, and Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy were aired on “Fox & Friends,” the hosts asked about his opposition to the bill, which Mr. Johnson defended. (Related article: 'We're spending money we don't have': Chip Roy sheds tears at Republicans and Democrats over emergency omnibus bill)
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“Mr. Speaker, when we were putting this together to get across the finish line and try to get the government to pay for itself through March, we expected some backlash,” Mr Kilmeade said. “Can you tell me something about this bill? Is it concerning that some Republicans seem to be very critical of this bill?”
Mr Johnson acknowledged the criticisms of Mr Burleson, Mr Norman and Mr Roy, saying they had raised legitimate concerns about government debt and spending. But he said the bill is needed to fund the government until President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
“When the new Congress begins in January, Republicans will be in power and DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency] “If we're hitting all six cylinders, we can reduce the size and scope of government,” Johnson said. “But before we get to that point, remember that right now we only control one-third of the federal government. Democrats are still in charge of the Senate and the White House. Please don't forget.”
Mr Johnson also claimed that Mr Burlison, Mr Norman and Mr Roy “were part of this decision” to pursue short-term measures.
“Normally I don't like short-term stopgap financing measures, but here it was a logical decision. [Senate Majority Leader] with Chuck Schumer [President Joe] “We postponed this decision to March so that Mr. Biden could spend in 2025.” “It's going to be March 14th. So what's unique here is that a Republican-controlled Congress and President Trump will be back in the White House and able to make spending decisions for 2025. So that's a good thing. It was.”
“But Mr. Speaker, what's confusing is that normally when there's opposition to a bill like this, you hear the voices of the Freedom Caucus, like Chip Roy, and you even have moderate members of Congress who participate in big races. I think so,” said Mr. Jones. “You have [Republican New York Rep.] Mike Lawler, as you know, is not an extreme fiscal conservative. But he also says the same thing. So how did you lose the Freedom Caucus and moderate members? ”
Mr Johnson said this was a “sausage-making process” and pointed out there were “two major emergencies” that required “emergency funding”.
“We've had a record-setting, historic hurricane season that we all know Helen and Milton and others have destroyed large swaths of the country, and we need funding for that. Six states. That's $100 billion to rebuild,” Johnson said. “On top of that, our country's farmers, small farmers and ranchers, and food producers are on the brink of permanent bankruptcy. Due to these factors, we have suffered losses for three years in a row.”
“So for the first time in the eight years I’ve been a member of Congress, it’s not just farmers and ranchers who urgently need help,” he continued. “Right now, our creditors, our lenders, our lending banks are saying we have to do something quick…If we crush the domestic food supply, that's a direct threat to national security. We need all the small farmers and ranchers. And that's in the bill. So when you add all of that up, it makes people nervous.”
The House is expected to vote on the CR first before sending it to the Democratic-controlled Senate. Senate Republicans, including Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley and Republican Florida Sen. Rick Scott, both criticized CR on Tuesday.
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