Well, folks, here we are again—another day, another display of congressional incompetence. The House of Representatives, in its infinite wisdom, has failed to pass the latest Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government. You know, the basic function they’re elected to perform. As a result, we’re staring down the barrel of yet another government shutdown. Merry Christmas, America.
Let’s break this down. The proposed CR was intended to keep the government running until mid-March. A 1,547-page behemoth, it was filled with the usual pork and backdoor deals that make Capitol Hill the cesspool of integrity we’ve come to expect.
But wait, it gets better. President-elect Donald Trump, not yet in office but already pulling strings, decided to torpedo the whole thing. Alongside Vice President-elect JD Vance, he issued a statement urging Republicans to be “tough” and “smart,” which, in political speak, means “do as I say, or else.” They even threw in a new demand: raise the debt limit now, so they don’t have to deal with it later. Because nothing says fiscal responsibility like preemptively maxing out the nation’s credit card.
Enter Elon Musk, billionaire extraordinaire and co-chair of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency. Musk took to social media to lambast the CR, calling it “outrageous” and suggesting that any Republican who supports it deserves to be ousted. Because when you’re the world’s richest man, why not play puppet master with the nation’s budget?
House Speaker Mike Johnson, caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place, watched as his carefully negotiated bill went up in flames. The revolt from within his own party, spurred on by Trump’s meddling and Musk’s tweets, left him scrambling for a Plan B. As of now, there is no new agreement, just a lot of “negotiations and conversations,” which, in Washington, usually means a whole lot of nothing.
So, what’s next? Well, if Congress doesn’t pull itself together by Saturday, the government will shut down. That means federal employees furloughed, national parks closed, and a halt to various services that, believe it or not, some Americans actually rely on. All because our elected officials can’t do their jobs.
But don’t worry; they’re still getting paid. That’s right, while the rest of the country deals with the fallout of their ineptitude, members of Congress will continue to receive their salaries. After all, why should they suffer the consequences of their own failures?
In the meantime, Trump is already threatening primary challenges against any Republican who dares to defy him. Because nothing says “unity” like eating your own. And Musk? He’s probably off designing a rocket to Mars, where, presumably, government shutdowns aren’t a thing.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time we’ve been down this road. In fact, government shutdowns have become something of a holiday tradition in recent years. Perhaps next year, Congress can save us all some time and just schedule the shutdown in advance. That way, we can plan our vacations accordingly.
In conclusion, the House’s failure to pass the latest CR is yet another example of the dysfunction that has come to define our federal government. With a shutdown looming, it’s the American people who will pay the price for their leaders’ incompetence. But hey, at least Congress will still get their paychecks.
So, as you gather with your families this holiday season, take a moment to reflect on the gift that keeps on giving: a government that doesn’t work, led by people who don’t care. Cheers.
