Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton weighed in on Thursday about Elon Musk’s influence on the spending drama on Capitol Hill.
“If you just want to catch up: Republicans, at the behest of the world’s richest man, intend to shut down the government over the holidays, and just in time for the end of the year to pay troops and provide nutrition benefits to low-income families.” “I’m going to stop Christmas,” the 2016 presidential candidate wrote to X.
Clinton is a former first lady and senator, and served in Congress from 2001 to 2009.
Her comments came just as House Speaker Mike Johnson announced a new version of the Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government open past Friday night’s deadline.
‘Outrageous’: House Democrats break out over Republican spending deal
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton weighed in on Thursday about Elon Musk’s influence on the spending drama on Capitol Hill. (Gina Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Mr. Musk strongly opposed the original spending deal Mr. Johnson negotiated with Democrats and threatened to support primary challenges to Republicans who voted for it.
Unless there is a satisfactory agreement to extend the government’s funding deadline until March and continue spending at 2024 levels, the government will enter a partial shutdown at midnight Saturday.
But House Democrats are second-guessing the latest spending plan. And some conservatives, with a debt of $36 trillion and a budget deficit of $1.8 trillion in 2024, are pushing back the funding deadline until March and keeping spending entirely at 2024 levels. I am against CR.
“Musk-Johnson’s proposal is not serious, it’s ridiculous. Extreme MAGA Republicans are forcing us into a government shutdown,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D.N.Y.) speaks during his weekly press conference at the Capitol Visitor Center on May 23, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Representative Richard Neal, D-Mass., suggested that Democratic leaders would whip their members to vote “no” on the deal.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) lamented that the previous agreement was undermined by conservative opposition, following comments from DOGE leaders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.
What Happens During a Partial Government Shutdown
“Everyone agreed,” he said, “and it was blown up by Elon Musk, who clearly became the fourth branch of government. And that’s just an unacceptable way to proceed.
“Democrats are going to figure out how they can salvage the public good from the wreckage that has been dislodged.”
After the bill text was announced, cries of “hell” could be heard inside the room where Democrats were meeting.
Elon Musk threatened to support a preliminary challenge to those who voted for CR. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
The latest continuing resolution would extend current government funding levels for three months and suspend the debt ceiling for two years, as requested by President-elect Trump.
This was announced after the original 1,500-page CR drew opposition from the right for policy and funding reasons.
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House lawmakers could vote on the new bill as early as Thursday night.
It was not immediately clear whether a new agreement would be passed. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), who led opposition to the original bill, also slammed the new agreement.
“More debt, more government. $4 trillion more credit cards with spending restraints and zero cuts. Absolute no,” Roy wrote to X.
