CNN’s Jake Tapper Hits GOP Rep Over Spending Bill Chaos: ‘Every Time We Go Through This’

CNN anchor Jake Tapper on Friday knocked Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) over his party’s “problem” with governing after a week of chaotic negotiations on a funding bill, which ultimately passed in the Senate and GOP-controlled House.

“Your conference, the House Republican conference, we go through this every single time Republicans control the House. You guys can’t pass legislation, you can’t govern,” Tapper told Lawler hours before the House’s vote on Friday.

The House struggled to agree on a funding plan after Donald Trump’s billionaire ally Elon Musk dropped a sea of criticism against a bipartisan budget proposal negotiated by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Ky.) on Wednesday.

Trump went on to echo Musk’s criticism, effectively killing the deal at the time, before a version neglecting the president-elect’s key demand ― to include an increase to the debt ceiling ― eventually passed in an effort to avert a government shutdown on Friday night.

The Senate overwhelming backed the new bill early Saturday morning.

The measure now heads to President Joe Biden, who is expected to sign it into law.

Lawler argued that the president-elect “rightfully should weigh in” on spending bill negotiations before questioning why Biden hadn’t uttered “a word” on the looming shutdown and slamming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

Tapper wasn’t having it with the focus of Lawler’s criticism.

“I certainly understand what you’re saying but at the same time, with all due respect sir, you’re going after the top Democrat in the Senate and a lame-duck Democratic president,” the CNN anchor said.

Tapper went on to clarify that he was pointing to House Republicans not passing “government funding legislation.”

“Every time we go through this,” he added.

Tapper later said he suspects Republicans will still have a “problem” negotiating government funding bills when the party controls the House, Senate and White House next year.

Lawler replied that he’s been “very vocal” in his conference and has called on lawmakers to recognize that not everyone will get “everything they want.”

“We’re not going to agree on every little detail but you have to find compromise,” Lawler said.

He continued, “And I agree, many in my conference, at times, have been unwilling to do that but we are going to have complete control in Washington next year and they’re going to have to, whether they like it or not, or they will get nothing.”