As a government shutdown looms, Democrats on Thursday slammed Republicans’ failed year-end spending bill. Pramila Jayapal, chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said the bill would allow President-elect Donald Trump’s “unelected billionaire friends to control the government and line their own pockets.” he warned. At the expense of working people. ”
Congress has until Friday night to pass a continuing resolution to avoid a federal government shutdown. House Republicans reached a short-term deal Thursday to continue funding the government for the next three months and suspend the debt ceiling until 2027, after President Trump blocked a bill that took months to negotiate. The agreement also includes about $110 billion in disaster relief funding. , is a key demand of the Democratic Party.
However, the House rejected the bill late Thursday. The vote was 174-235, with 38 Republicans voting against the bill and two Democrats approving it.
This was announced Wednesday after negotiations between President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, whom the president-elect has chosen to co-lead the new Office of Government Efficiency, and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana). This comes after it jeopardized previous spending plans. Democratic Party member.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York slammed Thursday’s Republican proposal as “laughable” during an afternoon press conference, according to Politico.
“Radical MAGA Republicans are forcing us into a government shutdown,” Jeffries said in a later meeting with members of the Democratic caucus, adding, “I simply won’t say no to the Republican proposal. A firm no,” he added.
He criticized the bill’s proposed cuts to pediatric health care spending, specifically $190 million in cuts to childhood cancer research. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York said on social media Thursday that Republicans are “cutting health care for children because Elon takes money from defense contracts and never touches the military budget.” “
On Wednesday, the Senate passed an $895 billion military spending bill that now awaits Democratic President Joe Biden’s signature.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (Iconic, I-Vt.) was one of many progressives to target Mr. Musk, and on Thursday he posted on social media that the world’s richest man said, “If you don’t comply with orders to shut down the government, you’ll lose your election.” and threatening to remove elected officials from office.” while on vacation. ”
“Are we still a democracy or have we already moved toward oligarchy and authoritarianism?” Sanders added.
Jayapal (D-Wash.) said in a statement Thursday that “any shutdown is 100% a Republican shutdown, and the impact on workers will be devastating.”
Japayal continued:
Shadow President Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump are billionaires who wonder where their next rent check will come from, how they will pay for the medicine they need, or what will happen if the Federal Aviation Administration has an emergency. I don’t even know what it’s like to worry about something. Governments) are closed and families are unable to visit their loved ones during the holidays. Yet Congressional Democrats and Republicans reached a bipartisan agreement to keep the government open, provide critical funding to communities devastated by natural disasters, and help vulnerable farmers facing bankruptcy. Just 12 hours later, they are wreaking havoc on fearful Republicans. , and child care and Social Security checks for children and seniors across the country.
“The failure of a deal to keep the government functioning would mean devastating holiday closures, millions of essential workers going to work without pay, families being evicted, and planes flying during the busiest travel season. delays and potential disruption to Social Security and Medicare services,” Jayapal said.
“The Progressive Caucus joins with Leader Jeffries and the entire Democratic caucus to demand passage of a negotiated agreement that funds the government and ensures that communities across this country are protected,” she added. . “We cannot submit to a government run by and for billionaires.”
