A deal was in place Tuesday night for a short-term spending bill that included disaster assistance and economic relief for farmers and ranchers. By Wednesday afternoon, that deal started to fall apart. Businessman Elon Musk, who will help lead a department of government efficiency for President-Elect Donald Trump, torpedoed the spending package. Trump and Vice President-Elect J.D. Vance released a statement a short time later saying Congress should pass a streamlined bill and increase the debt ceiling. A bill that included a suspension of the country’s borrowing limit was soundly defeated Thursday night. After a messy week, lawmakers finally passed a continuing resolution along with disaster relief and assistance for farmers early Saturday morning.
