(IntegrityPress.org) – A new compromise to keep the federal government operating left a lot to be desired by conservatives in Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) revealed the details of their latest budget agreement. The 1050-page whopper reportedly combined funding for the military, agriculture, veterans affairs, transportation, housing and energy departments. Deadlines were shoved back to March 8.
Conservative lawmakers lamented the lack of numerous line items in the package including prohibiting the DOJ to use taxpayer money to wage political lawfare against Donald Trump. They also decried the continued funding of the Chinese Wuhan Institute of Virology and other biolabs around the world using taxpayer funds to potentially advance bioweapon research. Conservatives also wanted the package to ban mail-order abortion pills and an overall complete defunding of any Biden executive orders promoting or mandating race/gender initiatives.
An unidentified Republican aide called the package “pathetic,” highlighting how many of the things conservatives wanted aren’t in the bill. He said that the largest cut, which impacts the FBI was solely due to the absence of anyone pushing for it. He also pointed out there’s nothing in the bill to address the southern border crisis.
Johnson, on the other hand, declared “key conservative policy victories” and called the budget cuts “sharp” in comments posted to X. He highlighted that the package prohibits the DOJ from targeting parents engaged in free speech as well as taking firearms from veterans.
The package cuts ATF and FBI budgets by seven and six percent, respectively, as well as cutting the EPA’s budget by ten percent. The budget for new construction projects related to the FBI was also eliminated. The FBI was also prohibited from investigating church groups as well as parents’ rights groups.
Democrats were big fans of the package, highlighting how it covers handouts for children, women, and people who can’t pay their rent. The bill will likely come to the floor of the House for a vote before the March 8 deadline.
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