Lee’s Christmas Warning

In a letter to the American public, which was shared with Fox News Digital, Lee cautioned against what he termed the “swamp” taking advantage of the Christmas season. “Don’t let the swamp steal Christmas!” he wrote, illustrating his point with a satirical image depicting President Biden as the Grinch.

Lee’s commentary suggests that a significant “Christmas gift” could be delivered to the Biden administration through an omnibus bill, which he argues would ultimately cost the American taxpayer. “This is their last chance to do favors for K Street lobbyists, give carve-outs to donors and friends, and generally spend your tax dollars like there’s no tomorrow,” the letter stated.

Sabotaging Trump’s Agenda

According to Lee, the anticipated bill would intentionally undermine the incoming agenda of President-elect Donald Trump. He indicated that the proposed “swampbus” could include various contentious items, like a year-long stopgap spending bill, additional funding for Ukraine, and the suspension of the debt limit, among others.

Lee is urging citizens to reach out to their senators and representatives, advocating against any support for an omnibus package. “Instead, Congress should pass a SHORT TERM continuing resolution for a few months, so that Donald Trump and the unified Republican Congress – decisively elected by Americans just two weeks ago – can drain the swamp, reform our government, and Make America Great Again,” he added.

The Call for a Continuing Resolution

A continuing resolution (CR) serves as a temporary funding measure to maintain consistent government spending for a specified duration. On “Fox News Sunday,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., concurred with Lee’s viewpoint. He stated that a temporary solution could extend into the early part of next year, allowing Republicans ample time to finalize a more favorable spending bill.

Johnson highlighted the role of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who currently has the power to advance individual appropriations bills. He emphasized the need for action, urging that Democrats have yet to present any appropriations measure on the Senate floor.

He noted that with Republican majorities in both the House and Senate and control of the White House by 2025, there would be an opportunity to draft a more agreeable spending plan through a short-term CR.

Future of Appropriations Bills

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who serves as the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, expressed optimism about passing individual appropriations bills. However, she acknowledged that the direction of the appropriations process largely depends on Schumer’s willingness to engage. “I think it’s a big mistake to have the appropriations process – for this fiscal year – go into next fiscal year and risk triggering the caps, which would result in a substantial decrease – more than a 5% decrease in defense spending,” she warned.

By midweek, Collins stated she had not yet made any progress in discussions with Schumer regarding appropriations since the recess.

Opinions on Omnibus Versus Continuing Resolution

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., voiced his preference for passing the spending bills on an individual basis rather than as part of an omnibus or continuing resolution. “Congress will probably end up with an omnibus,” he told Fox News Digital. However, he stressed the importance of clearing legislative hurdles now to ensure a productive start to the new congressional session.

Boozman highlighted the difficulties continuous resolutions pose for military leaders, indicating, “If you ask our military leaders what hurts them the most, it’s these continuing resolutions.” He elaborated that such resolutions limit new project initiations, forcing departments to operate on the previous year’s budget.

As the December 20 deadline approaches, there are concerns that without new spending measures or a stopgap plan, the country could soon face a partial government shutdown right before the Christmas holiday.

Schumer’s Response

As the debate intensifies, the office of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not yet released any statement addressing the current discussions or the anticipated actions surrounding the spending bill. The outcome of these political discussions will likely have significant repercussions for the government’s fiscal policies as well as for public services during the festive season and into the New Year.