December 21st 2024.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries recently spoke about the potential government shutdown that was narrowly avoided on December 20th. Thanks to an 85-11 vote, the shutdown was averted. In his remarks, Jeffries expressed his belief that the bipartisan spending bill was the best solution to prevent another shutdown.
According to The Hill, Jeffries also addressed the idea of a continuing resolution that would provide government funding and assistance to farmers and victims of natural disasters. He emphasized that House Democrats are committed to fighting for the well-being of families, farmers, and working-class Americans. For Jeffries, the bipartisan agreement was the most effective way to achieve this goal.
Reporters asked Jeffries if Democrats would support an alternative proposal, but he reiterated his support for the bipartisan agreement. He explained that it was negotiated in good faith with input from House Republicans, Senate Democrats, and Senate Republicans. He also stressed that their priority was fighting for everyday Americans, not the interests of millionaires and billionaires. Jeffries warned that a reckless Republican shutdown would harm everyday Americans.
ABC 11 reported that the current agreement replaced a previous 1,500-page deal that faced opposition from President-elect Trump and Elon Musk. Their objections, particularly Trump's desire to raise the debt ceiling, caused House Speaker Mike Johnson to create a new deal. This raised concerns about Johnson's job security, as he had already failed to get a new deal through twice before the successful attempt.
The involvement of Musk in getting the original deal abolished angered some Democrats. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders even called it "oligarchy," not democracy. Despite this, the new bill still includes the funding that Jeffries discussed. The New Republic noted that some Democratic Representatives believed Musk was calling the shots. This seemed to bother Musk, and it even prompted a response from a Trump spokesperson, who stated that "President Trump is the leader of the Republican Party, full stop."
On December 21st, the White House announced that President Joe Biden had signed the stop-gap funding bill passed by the Senate. This bill extends government funding until March 2025 and also includes disaster relief and funds to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge. In a statement, President Biden acknowledged that the agreement was a compromise, meaning that neither side got everything they wanted. However, he emphasized that it rejected the Republican's push for a tax cut for billionaires and ensured that the government could continue to operate at full capacity.
In related news, Republicans have now taken control of Washington, D.C. and hold a majority in the House. This shift in power has implications for future negotiations and policies.
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