- The Washington Times - Monday, January 8, 2024

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene says she’s a “no” for the $1.6 trillion budget agreement reached Sunday between House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer.

“This $1.6 Trillion dollar budget agreement does nothing to secure the border, stop the invasion, or stop the weaponized government targeting Biden’s political enemies and innocent Americans,” the Georgia Republican wrote on X. “So much for the power of the purse!”

Congressional leaders announced the agreement on the topline annual spending levels of $1.59 trillion, a big step toward avoiding a partial government shutdown. The first shutdown deadline is Jan. 19. A second batch of annual spending bills expires Feb. 2.

Many aspects of the agreement come from last year’s deal between House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Biden that suspended the government’s $31.4 trillion debt limit.

The national debt has topped $34 trillion since then.

The new agreement allows $886 billion for defense and $704 billion for nondefense spending in the current fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.

Other conservatives had a problem with what they call “Washington math.”

“Don’t let the swamp fool you. The ’bipartisan’ spending deal is a sham,” said Rep. Eric Burlinson, Missouri Republican. “Both parties are addicted to reckless spending, and it’s time we put a stop to it.”

The funding deal is separate from the ongoing discussion in the Senate for new border policies as part of a $110 billion national security package that doles out aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. But some House Republicans have threatened to oppose any government funding legislation unless stricter border security measures are adopted to stem the record-breaking flow of illegal crossings.

Ramsey Touchberry contributed to this story.

• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.

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