CNN reports that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) may be losing his first big clash with hard-right GOP lawmakers as this Friday’s funding deadline for the federal government approaches.
Johnson, who was just lifted from obscurity to second in line to the presidency, may soon find himself in the position that doomed his predecessor, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), needing Democratic votes to keep the government open. A funding deadline of Friday night means Washington again faces a wild ride of shutdown brinkmanship.
On Saturday (11/11/2023), Johnson unveiled a complex, two-tiered plan to temporarily fund the government – with a pair of deadlines in January and February for the passage of permanent department budgets. The move could head off the Washington holiday-season “tradition” of shutdown dramas and mammoth all-encompassing spending bills, but the odds of a GOP majority delivering on this plan seem unlikely.
The CNN article may be read HERE.
The question must be asked – has the unwillingness of Democrats to join with Republicans on anything, coupled with the unwillingness of Republicans to agree on anything, even within their own party, caused the US federal government to become ungovernable?
My brothers and sisters, as with the justice system, an “adversarial approach” has the potential to bring clarity, unveil the truth, sharpen focus and to ultimately assure sound decision-making. Unfortunately, when the moral underpinning and wisdom of a society become so sharply divided that even common-sense, logical approaches to governing (e.g., prioritizing, budgeting and spending only the money you have; passing legislation benefiting our liberties and borders; and assuring a strong military deterrent to aggression) can no longer be accomplished, the country is in trouble.
Too many years of self-serving, know-it-all and power-hungry leadership has brought the country to a point where much of the world either laughs or no longer looks to us for serious leadership (except when they need us to drop a few bombs or write “rubber” checks to help save them from an existential threat).
Our God is not a God of confusion! If all of us, including our elected and appointed governmental officials, would daily humble ourselves, check our pride and ambition, desire unity, seek the Lord for His guidance in our work and priorities, and give God all the praise, honor and glory – things would be very different!
Some scripture to consider:
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
“…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Psalm 33:12 (KJV)
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom [H]e hath chosen for [H]is own inheritance.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge [H]im, and [H]e will make straight your paths.”
1 Corinthians 3:19 (NLT)
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, ‘He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.’”
1 Corinthians 14:33 (ESV)
“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.”
Praise Jesus forevermore!