The cycle of Congress passing last-minute spending bills without amendments, spending cuts, or addressing the growing federal debt seems never-ending. Year after year, despite a Republican majority in the House and a slim Democratic control of the Senate, this pattern continues unchallenged. The current Congress has followed this well-worn path, setting December 20th as the deadline for passing the annual Christmas spending bill. Such a chokepoint is often exploited to push through large, earmarks-filled omnibus appropriations bills, which increase spending and include substantial financial commitments, such as food-welfare extensions, PAYGO waivers, and debt-ceiling hikes.
Commendably, House Speaker Mike Johnson and other House leaders embraced and actively supported a plan by House conservatives and the Conservative Movement. Their strategy proposed a six-month Continuing Resolution (CR) to avert the Christmas chokepoint, with an attached SAVE Act to prevent the voter registration of non-citizens. This demonstrated leadership is praiseworthy, and conservatives should extend their gratitude. However, not all House Republicans supported it. Although the CR-plus-SAVE-Act plan wasn't flawless—it would have continued funding the Biden-Harris agenda for half a year—its larger goal was significant. By potentially removing the Christmas time pressure and allowing a more conservative government in Washington, D.C. next year, it hoped to foster better appropriation policies and make it more difficult for non-citizens to vote.
Unfortunately, it failed to garner unanimous support, with 21 Republicans either voting no, answering 'present,' or abstaining. Some even left to attend a Trump-Vance rally instead of deciding on crucial spending legislation. Such actions reveal the stark reality that the congressional appropriations process has been malfunctioning for decades, often offering a 'take-it-or-leave-it' choice under the threat of government shutdown.
Anticipating that Congress will do minimal appropriations work until December, excuses abound—from campaign activities to leadership elections and even holiday breaks. This predictable pattern, however, isn't unavoidable. Congress could and should act proactively to prevent a December 20th brinksmanship by utilizing the five legislative weeks available and possibly extending session hours. The ultimate focus should be on securing conservative victories for the American populace—be they through spending cuts, dissolving large socialist programs, or passing universally appealing policies like voter ID and parental control over education.
Advancing American Freedom, under leadership like that of Paul Teller, stands ready to support efforts against the typical December budget debacles for a brighter future for the United States. Paul Teller, the Executive Vice President of Advancing American Freedom—founded by former Vice President Mike Pence—presents these opinions independently of the Daily Caller News Foundation's position. The DCNF provides its content freely to licensed publishers, ensuring a wide reach for its independent, nonpartisan journalism.
