‘Sick’: Dems slam Johnson’s refusal to negotiate as government hurls toward shutdown

20.12.2024 19:15

Raw Story

Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson reportedly plans to bring a third spending bill to the House floor for a vote on Friday morning, just hours before an increasingly likely federal government shutdown at midnight. The bill must pass in the House, clear the Senate, and be signed into law by President Joe Biden to avert a shutdown, which would come just days before Christmas as Congress plans to leave D.C. for its holiday recess.

Given Johnson's razor-thin majority, he will need votes from Democrats, who are furious over his refusal to negotiate with them. As CBS News' Scott MacFarlane reports, "Democratic votes are needed - no matter what — to avoid a shutdown."

On Thursday night, 38 Republicans refused to vote for the House GOP's bill.

Axios's Andrew Solender reports that Democrats are saying the problem "is not just that [Republicans] killed the original deal – though that’s a big one – but that they’re negotiating with themselves. 'They keep trying to guess what Dems will vote for, they should just talk to the Democratic Leader,' says a senior House Dem[ocrat]."

Thursday evening, Speaker Johnson and House Republicans were warned they needed to include Democrats in their negotiations to keep the government open.

"You know, denial is not just a river in Egypt," began U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), known for his often sarcastic remarks.

"Let's talk about the last two years. It was the Democrats who raised the debt ceiling, not the Republicans last time. Many of you voted against it. It was the Democrats who kept open the government, not once, not twice, but every single time we needed to keep the government open, it was the Democrats who kept the government open. More of us voted for it than you."

"And all I've heard for the last couple of weeks about is this giant mandate landslide trifecta," Moskowitz continued. "Put on your big boy pants, pass your own bill."

"We're only here because you guys can't agree amongst yourselves," he added, to applause. "Democrats will keep government open for the American people. We will mediate the disagreements between that side of the room and that side of the room — we will do that for you, but you've got to at least invite us to that meeting. So if you want us to solve your problem because you can't agree amongst yourselves, reach out."

Far right Florida Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, who tried on Thursday to blame Democrats for any possible shutdown, on Friday morning got in front of the cameras and vowed there will be no negotiations with Democrats.

After denouncing Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer with some colorful language, Rep. Luna declared, "there'll be no deals with the Democrats," and "we're not cutting deals with Democrats."

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), responding to Rep. Luna's remarks, exclaimed: "So bipartisan means… 2 parties worked together. Unilaterally a bipartisan deal was scrapped, but Nevermind." She added: "THEY said they weren’t working with us."

U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, the House Democratic Minority Whip, declared: "We’re 15 hours away from a government shutdown that would devastate everyday Americans. Troops will be forced to serve without pay. Families will be stripped of food assistance. Travelers will face disruptions — right before the holidays. This is not a game, @HouseGOP."

Aaron Fritschner, Deputy Chief of Staff for U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), warned, "Republicans are mathematically and procedurally incapable of funding the government on their own without Democratic votes. This was true when they took the majority and will be true next year. When they refuse to deal with us, they are posturing and messaging, not legislating."

U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) excoriated House Republicans for refusing to negotiate with Democrats: "Democrats control the White House and Senate. You're just for a shutdown if your position is that you won't negotiate. They are getting ready to cut off pay for our troops at Christmas. Just sick."

Watch Rep. Moskowitz's remarks below or at this link.