Speaker Johnson Makes Unique Confession
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is drawing a firm line on Washington’s reckless spending habits — rejecting another short-term deal that would drag Congress into yet another last-minute Christmas spending frenzy.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Johnson made it clear that he wants the next continuing resolution (CR) — a temporary bill that keeps the government funded — to run through January, not December.
“A lot of people around here have PTSD about Christmas omnibus spending bills,” Johnson said. “We don’t want to do that. It gets too close, and we don’t want to have that risk.”
Johnson’s move marks a bold shift from the typical D.C. chaos, where massive “omnibus” bills are rammed through before Christmas — often filled with billions in last-minute earmarks and pet projects.
A Longer Runway for Fiscal Discipline
The current short-term funding bill, passed by the House in September, expires November 21, setting up another potential government shutdown showdown.
Johnson says a January extension “makes sense” — giving Congress more time to pass individual appropriations bills instead of bloated year-end packages.
“There’s some discussion about it. We’ll see where it lands,” he added.
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a senior GOP leader, agreed, saying, “The longer runway is better.” He argued that pushing the deadline into January would give lawmakers time to govern responsibly — not under the pressure of holiday deadlines.
Not All Senators Agree
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said she prefers a shorter extension ending December 19, though many conservatives believe that would just set up another “Christmas Eve spending spree.”
Democrats Demand More Spending
Democrats, meanwhile, are once again holding spending talks hostage, insisting that any deal include extensions to Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, which are set to expire this year.
Critics say it’s another example of Democrats using must-pass legislation to push progressive welfare policies — rather than focusing on national priorities like border security, energy independence, and inflation relief.
Still, Sen. Thune said he’s “optimistic” that a deal could be reached soon, noting that Tuesday’s elections have temporarily slowed negotiations.
Johnson’s Leadership: Ending Washington’s Waste
Since taking the gavel, Speaker Mike Johnson has emphasized fiscal sanity, transparency, and accountability — core principles that many conservatives say have been missing from Congress for years.
Johnson has vowed to end the cycle of bloated omnibus bills and restore responsible budgeting — a move many see as a return to Trump-era fiscal discipline and common sense.
“If the Senate passes a new stopgap measure, the House will come back to session,” Johnson confirmed — signaling that Republicans are ready to govern responsibly while rejecting Washington’s addiction to wasteful spending.
