Hillary Clinton says Republicans are taking orders from ‘world’s richest man’ to shut down government
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently spoke out about the ongoing spending drama on Capitol Hill, particularly focusing on Elon Musk’s influence in the matter. Clinton expressed her concerns about the Republican Party seemingly taking orders from Musk, the world’s richest man, and potentially causing a government shutdown over the holidays. This could result in paychecks being halted for troops and crucial nutrition benefits being cut off for low-income families just in time for Christmas.
As a former first lady and senator who served in Congress from 2001 to 2009, Clinton’s insights carry weight. Her comments coincided with House Speaker Mike Johnson unveiling a revised version of a continuing resolution (CR) aimed at preventing a government shutdown past the Friday night deadline.
The situation escalated when Musk vehemently opposed the initial spending deal negotiated by Johnson with Democrats. Musk even went as far as threatening to support primary challenges against any Republican who voted in favor of the deal. Without a viable resolution to extend the government funding deadline to March and maintain spending at 2024 levels, a partial shutdown loomed on the horizon.
House Democrats, however, raised objections to the latest iteration of the spending plan. With the national debt standing at a staggering $36 trillion and a $1.8 trillion deficit projected for 2024, some conservatives were against the CR proposal. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the Musk-Johnson proposal as unserious, attributing the potential shutdown to extreme MAGA Republicans.
Democratic representatives like Richard Neal and Jamie Raskin expressed discontent with the unfolding events. Raskin lamented how a previously agreed-upon deal had been disrupted by conservative opposition, influenced by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. He underscored Musk’s perceived role as a de facto fourth branch of government, deeming it an unacceptable mode of operation.
As tensions rose among lawmakers, chants of “hell no” reverberated within the Democratic meeting room following the release of the new bill text. The revised CR aimed to extend current government funding levels for three months and suspend the debt limit for two years, a demand echoed by President-elect Trump.
The challenge now lies in securing bipartisan support for the new deal, with Rep. Chip Roy of Texas joining the ranks of critics who rejected the proposal. The fate of the CR remains uncertain, with House lawmakers gearing up for a potential vote as early as Thursday evening.
In conclusion, the Capitol Hill spending saga underscores the complexities of governance and the significant influence of external forces like Elon Musk. As the political landscape evolves, finding common ground amidst diverging viewpoints becomes imperative to steer the nation towards stability and progress.
