Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is hoping the House can pass a bill unlocking a third Republican-only spending package before the week is out. The $95 billion budget framework made it out of the committee last week but GOP lawmakers in both the House and Senate have grumbled — especially fiscal hawks. They are concerned that there are no spending cuts to balance out a bill that sets aside $73 billion in new military spending, most of it earmarked to help pay for the war against Iran.
According to Politico, House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole, R-Okla., scolded his colleagues bothered by the lack of fiscal conservatism. “When did you ever pay for a war? A lot of this is military expenses aimed at that war,” Cole said before the bill’s markup Wednesday. “The point is that play’s been called. It’s time to put up or shut up.”
This is a preview of a column by Hayes Brown. Read the full column here.
