Spending bill trouble brews as Sen Mike Lee warns of Christmas 'swampbus'

FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, is informing Americans that Congress mightiness effort to walk a ample omnibus spending measure up of the pre-Christmas deadline, which helium said would let the authorities to proceed operating nether Democrats' and President Biden's preferred spending levels. 

"Don’t fto the swamp bargain Christmas!" helium penned successful a missive to the American people, obtained by Fox News Digital connected Monday. The papers featured a rendering of Biden arsenic the Grinch. 

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Lee accused Democrats of trying to sabotage Trump's presidency by keeping spending astatine Biden's levels. (Reuters)

"Congress whitethorn soon present a monolithic Christmas gift to Joe Biden at the disbursal of the American radical successful the signifier of authorities called an omnibus. This is their past accidental to bash favors for K Street lobbyists, springiness carve-outs to donors and friends, and mostly walk your taxation dollars similar there’s nary tomorrow," the missive said. 

According to Lee, specified a measure would sabotage President-elect Trump's docket by design.  

He predicted respective items that mightiness beryllium portion of a "swampbus," including a stopgap spending measure that lasts for a year, much backing for Ukraine, an further suspension of the indebtedness limit, and different measure priorities with looming deadlines. 

Lee urged Americans to interaction their senators and representatives to request they not enactment immoderate omnibus. 

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"Instead, Congress should walk a SHORT TERM continuing solution for a fewer months, truthful that Donald Trump and the unified Republican Congress – decisively elected by Americans conscionable 2 weeks agone – tin drain the swamp, betterment our government, and Make America Great Again," helium said. 

A continuing solution (CR) is simply a stopgap measurement that would support spending dependable for a play of time. 

On "Fox News Sunday," House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., shared this perspective, telling big Shannon Bream, "[W]e'll person a impermanent measure, I think, that would spell into the archetypal portion of adjacent twelvemonth and let america the indispensable clip to get this done," if idiosyncratic appropriations bills are not passed by the Dec. 20 deadline. 

"Chuck Schumer is inactive the Democrat person determination successful the Senate, and helium has refused to enactment a azygous appropriations measure connected the floor," helium said of the Democratic bulk leader.

Johnson noted that with majorities successful some the House and Senate and power of the White House successful 2025, Republicans would beryllium capable to trade and walk a much favorable spending measure with a short-term CR. 

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Johnson predicted a continuing solution whitethorn beryllium necessary. (Allison Robbert/Pool via AP)

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, ranking subordinate of the Senate Committee connected Appropriations, said she inactive hopes to walk idiosyncratic appropriations bills, but that it yet depends connected Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and what helium wants to do. 

"But I deliberation it's a large mistake to person the appropriations process – for this fiscal twelvemonth – spell into adjacent fiscal twelvemonth and hazard triggering the caps, which would effect successful a important alteration – much than a 5% alteration successful defence spending," she added. 

As of Wednesday, Collins said she hadn't seen Schumer aft recess, fto unsocial discussed appropriations with him. 

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., noted that passing the spending bills individually would beryllium his preference, but erstwhile it comes to an omnibus oregon a continuing solution stopgap bill, he'd alternatively the former. 

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Collins is ranking subordinate of the Appropriations Committee. (Mark Makela/Getty Images)

Congress volition "probably extremity up with an omnibus," helium told Fox News Digital, "but I'd similar to spell up and wide the decks present truthful we tin travel backmost and get started."

According to the senator, "If you inquire our subject leaders what hurts them the most, it's these continuing resolutions."

"You tin ideate however it would beryllium if you had to support spending wealth precisely similar you spent the erstwhile year, not being capable to commencement immoderate caller projects." 

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If caller spending is not approved by mode of appropriations bills oregon a stopgap measure, a partial authorities shutdown could beryllium ushered successful earlier Christmas. 

Schumer's bureau did not instantly supply remark to Fox News Digital.