A massive, more than 1,500-page continuing resolution (CR) was finally released yesterday, the product of secret negotiations behind closed doors directed by Chuck Schumer.

Among the disastrous goodies stuffed into this year-end stocking are pay raises for Members of Congress and a Big Pharma money grab from American businesses, consumers and especially seniors — at a time when too many Americans are already facing serious challenges with the cost of living.

Voters are watching. Why would any lawmaker support such an unvetted, out-of-touch monster of a package with nearly no time to even thoroughly read and digest what it contains? Especially when what we know is it would give politicians a pay raise and Big Pharma a profit windfall at the expense of the American people.

As Elon Musk puts it:

The New York Post highlighted the many concerns being raised by Members of Congress with the right priorities in mind:

“‘Everything I am hearing about the CR thus far leads me to believe that I’ll be voting NO. Republicans are in the majority and yet the Democrats seem to get more of their priorities in than we do,’ Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) complained on X before the text was released.

“‘This CR is turning into a three-month omnibus, that will result in more Democrats than Republicans voting for it. The Swamp is using farmers and victims of natural disasters as pawns to fund an over-bloated pet project filled disaster,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) griped.

“She later struck a more ominous tone, ‘The Christmas CR lump of coal comes with a warning. Beware the Ides of March.’

The New York Post continues:  

“Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), for instance, demanded that Johnson adhere to the 72-hour rule, allow a vote on a pay-for and vote on legislation to stop the selling off of border wall materials.

“‘The Swamp is going to Swamp. This is not the way to do business. We’re just fundamentally unserious about spending. As long as you’ve got a blank check, you can’t shrink government. If you can’t shrink government, you can’t live free,’ Roy told reporters.

Among the most disastrous provisions included are billions, upward of $50 billion for Big Pharma – who was named one of the winners of the CR –  and Democrat priorities like the government covering the replacement costs for the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore and the RFK Stadium, a massive pay raise for Members of Congress, higher Medicare health care premiums for seniors, government mandates dictating how America’s employers can design their pharmacy benefits, and disastrous price hikes for consumers, patients, families, employers, and seniors.

Senator Mike Lee asked a question that should be on every lawmaker’s mind:

Too many Americans can’t afford basic necessities like groceries or rent, and Congress is going to give themselves a raise and hand Big Pharma a massive profit windfall, while increasing health care costs? Congress should reject the stuffed stocking CR – and pass a clean bill to fund the government.