Pork-filled stopgap incites revolt from House Republicans

By Thérèse Boudreaux
The Center Square

Following the highly anticipated release of a government funding stopgap, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is taking heat from Republicans over the large number of concessions he made to Democrats in order to gain bipartisan support.

Though not an omnibus bill, the 1,547-page Continuing Resolution is so bloated that some Republicans are calling it a “Christmas Cramnibus,” condemning the plethora of Democrat wishlist items that will add billions of additional dollars in spending than is necessary to keep the government running until March 14.

Besides $100 billion in disaster aid and billions in farm spending, the CR includes $8 billion for a new football stadium in Washington, D.C., $50 million annually for an extended drinking water program, five years' worth of funding for a healthcare education program, a reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, and a future pay raise for members of Congress.

Johnson was betting on the right-leaning House Rules Committee to approve the CR, which would allow the bill to pass the House floor with a simple majority. But the outcome of Johnson’s negotiations with Democrats has jeopardized support from his own party, including key members of the committee.

U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., said he will “personally be raising hell” if the measure is voted on without following the 72-hour rule for considering legislation.

Fellow member Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, announced on Wednesday just before noon that he will reject the current CR, even if that means disrupting holiday break.

“A vote for the 1550+ page, unpaid-for, deficit-increasing Christmas tree monstrosity is a vote AGAINST #DOGE & true reform,” Roy said on X. “We should start over. We don’t have to be home for Christmas.”

Johnson will likely have to bring the CR to the House floor under a suspension of the rules, meaning two-thirds of the chamber must approve the measure for it to pass – votes Johnson may not have. 

An increasing number of Republican legislators have indicated strong opposition to the measure, including Reps. Eric Burlison of Missouri, Nicole Malliotakis of New York, Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin, Andy Biggs of Arizona, and Michael Cloud of Texas.

“Congress has had months to negotiate a clean government funding bill to get us to Trump’s term,” Cloud posted on X late Tuesday. “Yet, here they are again at the last second trying to jam through a 1,500+ page CR that could be called for a vote before the required 72 hour rule.”

Vivek Ramaswamy, a businessman favored by Trump who is set to help lead DOGE, called the urgency around the last-minute CR “100% manufactured & designed to avoid serious public debate.” He emphasized that all the additional provisions will make the price tag much higher than it needs to be, and urged lawmakers to vote no.

“Keeping the government open until March 14 will cost ~$380BN by itself, but the true cost of this omnibus CR is far greater due to new spending,” Ramaswamy posted on X Wednesday. “The proposal adds at least 65 cents of new spending for every dollar of continued discretionary spending.”

“It's indefensible to ram these measures through at the last second without debate,” he added.

Congress has until midnight on Friday to pass the CR; otherwise, the government will shut down.

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