Johnson Pulls Bill

By
Markus Noah
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Oh, the drama in D.C.! House Speaker Mike Johnson’s latest attempt to keep the government open has officially flatlined, thanks to a one-two punch from Donald Trump and Elon Musk. The spending deal, which tried to pack everything but the kitchen sink into a stopgap measure, didn’t stand a chance once the pressure campaign from Trump and Musk hit high gear. The bill is dead, and Johnson’s “backup plan” is… well, anyone’s guess. So much for strategy.

Let’s unpack the mess. Johnson’s plan aimed to keep the lights on through March 2025 while tacking on over $100 billion in disaster aid, perks for farmers, some vague healthcare reforms, and—get this—a pay raise for Congress. Oh, and a few local goodies like rebuilding Maryland’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. Because nothing says “serious fiscal responsibility” like slipping in pet projects and a raise for the same people who can’t seem to do their jobs.

Unsurprisingly, this bloated mess didn’t sit well with Trump, who took to social media to deliver his verdict. He slammed the Continuing Resolution as a “nasty trap” cooked up by the “Radical Left Democrats” to sabotage Republicans. He’s not wrong. The bill is a hodgepodge of compromises designed to give Democrats policy wins while dangling enough carrots to tempt Republican moderates. But Trump was having none of it, warning Republicans that they’d face a primary reckoning if they supported such nonsense.


Then there’s Elon Musk, who chimed in on X (formerly Twitter), calling the bill “terrible” and celebrating its demise. When the guy who literally owns the biggest megaphone in the digital world starts calling your legislation garbage, it’s game over. Musk’s influence, combined with Trump’s direct appeal to Republican voters, was more than enough to scare off any GOP members who were on the fence.

The bill’s failure highlights a growing divide within the Republican Party. On one side, you have establishment lawmakers who are desperate to avoid a government shutdown at any cost. On the other, you have the MAGA faithful, who aren’t willing to sell out their principles for some short-term deal that’s stuffed with Democrat wish-list items. Trump’s call for a “clean” Continuing Resolution—one stripped of unnecessary “bells and whistles”—is a clear message: stop playing the Democrats’ game and start focusing on conservative priorities.

But let’s be clear: this isn’t just about the GOP’s internal squabbles. Democrats were more than happy to load up Johnson’s bill with progressive goodies while letting Republicans take the blame for its failure. And now, with a government shutdown looming, the Left is already gearing up to spin the narrative that Republicans are the ones holding the country hostage. Classic.

Meanwhile, Speaker Johnson’s leadership is being tested. He took the gavel promising to bring order and discipline to the House, but this debacle is anything but orderly. His inability to unite his caucus around a cohesive plan doesn’t bode well for his tenure—or the GOP’s broader legislative agenda.

If Congress doesn’t pass a spending bill by midnight on Saturday, nonessential government functions will shut down. The media will predictably wring its hands, and Democrats will trot out the usual talking points about Republican dysfunction. But here’s the thing: a short-term shutdown might be exactly what the GOP needs to regroup and refocus on fighting for real fiscal responsibility.

As for Trump and Musk, they’ve sent a loud and clear message: the days of rolling over for bloated, Democrat-friendly spending deals are over. If Speaker Johnson wants to prove he’s up to the job, he’d better start listening. Otherwise, the next shutdown won’t just involve government agencies—it’ll be the GOP’s credibility going dark.

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