© 2024 Allbritton Journalism Institute

Republicans Are Very Busy With Bills That Are Going to Die Immediately

The House GOP is chewing up its days — and the days of House Democrats — with appropriations bills that everyone knows won’t become law.

Mike Johnson, Chip Roy
Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Chip Roy walk to an event outside the Capitol. J. Scott Applewhite/AP

The House lawmakers tasked with funding the government stuffed themselves into a crowded hearing room on Wednesday, broke out some potato chips, and debated a bill they know has no chance of becoming law.

As they sifted through the piles of proposed amendments — and the chips — they argued all the familiar issues: whether to slash government spending, whether to support climate change initiatives, and whether it’s actually necessary for Congress to ban the State Department from using money on drag performances.

It’s neither dirty nor a secret that appropriations bills are going nowhere anytime soon.