Every two years voters elect candidates to House and Senate seats who make the same promise: Send me to Washington and I'll put an end to profligate government spending.
Yet the balance on the government's credit card continues to soar to new heights.
Last week Sen. Mike Lee revealed why. The Utah Republican explained that it's neither a Democrat thing nor a Republican thing: It's a leadership thing, and both parties are equally at fault.
"The law firm of Schumer, McConnell, McCarthy, & Jeffries ('The Firm') has learned that members of Congress (and voters) don't like 'omnibus' spending bills—that is, legislative proposals that fund all of the functions of the federal government in a single, consolidated bill," Lee said in the first of a 35-tweet thread.
He explained that "An omnibus spending bill is typically written by The Firm in secret, with assistance from a few 'appropriators' (members of the House and Senate spending or 'appropriations' committees), hand-picked by The Firm."
Lee added that timing is everything to pass these bills. Congressional leaders will normally present an omnibus spending bill to the public and lawmakers a few days or even hours ahead of a government shutdown, reducing the possibility of raising objections, contributing input or offering amendments.
"Congress can fix this if rank-and-file lawmakers stop worshipping The Firm," concluded Lee.
Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., observed that spending within our means should be a no-brainer.
"America should have a government that spends less than it generates in revenue," said Crane, a former Navy SEAL.
"That's not extreme. That's the expectation. I'm sick of extremists demanding that we continue to increase the national debt."
This time a new wrinkle was added to the mix — a proposed continuing resolution (CR), hammered out jointly by several members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and the more moderate Main Street Caucus.
Unlike previous CRs, this one would temporarily reduce spending from the current level, and add a few restrictions.
"The 30 day CR does 2 things," said Rep. Byron Donalds, a Florida Republican and Freedom Caucus member:
"1. Secure the southern border.
"2. Cut government spending by 8%.
"**There is NO Ukraine $$$**," he added.
"The truth is Congress needs more time to do the necessary spending cuts and reforms to stop the weaponization of our government and save our country."
Nevertheless, it wasn't enough for other conservative House members, including Crane.
Crane said that the proposed 8% decrease in discretionary spending, the largest cut in decades, isn't "enough."
He added that he and fellow House Freedom Caucus members "understand the financial crisis that this country is in, and the only way that this town will ever change is, is if they're forced to change. And that's why it requires many of us to hold the line and say no, and stand in the gap and take all the slings and arrows and that's what we're doing."
Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican and Freedom Caucus member, also voiced opposition to the CR, and the phrase "shut it down" began trending on social media. It's not hard to see why.
While Americans are struggling with their own finances in the midst of President Joe Biden's spending-fueled inflationary economy, the federal debt reached $33 trillion this week — roughly $100,000 saddled by every American man, woman and child.
And to what end? The U.S. Census Bureau reported last week that the national poverty rate increased last year for the first time in 13 years, to 12.4%, up 4.6% from 2021.
Even more alarming, the poverty rate among children more than doubled during the same period, from 5.2% in 2021 to 12.4% last year.
"Shut it down" makes added sense given recent government actions in response to the COVID pandemic.
"They shut down American businesses and schools for 2+ years and didn't give a crap about the consequences" observed one Twitter/X user. "Shut it down until the bills can be written and passed SEPARATELY. If you want to avoid a shut down then stay until 10/1 if that's what it takes. Do not go home you already had a month off."
The late President Ronald Reagan's wisdom rings true at this time.
"In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem," he said during his Jan. 20, 1981, inaugural address.
And America responded favorably to his wisdom. Four years later voters in 49 states kept him in the White House for four more years. Reagan only lost Minnesota (his opponent's home state) and the District of Columbia (the home of deficit spending).
Shut it down and make Congress do its job. No more omnibus spending bills, no more continuing resolutions, no more deficit spending.
Michael Dorstewitz is a retired lawyer and has been a frequent contributor to Newsmax. He is also a former U.S. Merchant Marine officer and an enthusiastic Second Amendment supporter. Read Michael Dorstewitz's Reports — More Here.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.