By Jesus Garcia
Dec 20, 2024, 09:57 AM EST
Republicans discuss new budget plan to avoid government shutdown early Saturdaybut they could face criticism from President-elect Donald Trump, who pushed for the debt ceiling date.
This decision occurs after Democrats rejected the plan unilaterally negotiated between Republicans, President-elect Trump and the influence of billionaire Elon Musk.
To approve the budget, the support of Democrats is required, who are pushing for funds for agricultural programs, drug price cuts, disaster aid, among others, as was integrated in the original project.
The president of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson (Louisiana) faces tough pressure from some of his colleagues and Democratsafter modifying the bipartisan agreement, which was rejected by Democrats on Thursday night.
If Congress does not approve a budget project, the government shutdown would be early Saturday.
After Plan B rejected by Democrats, the White House criticized the Republicans’ unilateral changewhom spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre accused of being “doing the bidding of their billionaire benefactors at the expense of Americans.”
“Republicans are breaking their word by supporting a bipartisan deal that would reduce prescription drug costs and make it harder to offshor jobs to China, and instead are introducing a bill that paves the way for tax breaks for billionaires while cutting critical programs that working families count on, from Social Security to Head Start,” criticized Jean-Pierre.
He added that the president Joe Biden supports the bipartisan agreement to keep the government open, in a project that would also allow President-elect Trump’s incoming administration to operate until mid-March.
Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (New York) criticized Republican adjustments ahead of Thursday night’s vote in which Plan B was rejected.
“Musk and Johnson’s proposal is not serious. It’s ridiculous. Radical Republicans who support MAGA are leading us to a government shutdown,” he said.
Keep reading:
- Trump endorses new budget plan to avoid government shutdown
- Alert for closure of Biden’s government due to lack of budget agreement in Congress and pressure from Trump
- US Congressional leaders reach agreement to avoid government shutdown