Kernen Critiques Government Shutdown Tactics
During a segment on CNBC, host Joe Kernen expressed to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries that the notion of shutting down the government over a bill that doesn’t sit well with Republicans could lead to chaos within the party.
Democrats initiated a shutdown on October 1, pointing to a lack of extension for subsidies from the Biden administration’s Affordable Care Act and significant tax cuts included in a recent bill passed in July. On “Squawk Box,” Kernen accused Democrats of denying pay to government employees while simultaneously demanding favorable conditions for those same workers.
“The election took place, and Republicans found themselves needing to pass this ‘big, beautiful bill.’ You, of course, refer to it as the ‘big, ugly bill.’ So, if we express our dislike for it, and you threaten a government shutdown until all that’s repealed, that’s problematic,” Kernen remarked. “Imagine if Republicans acted similarly regarding the Inflation Control Act and other Biden-backed legislation. If they declared a shutdown because they disagreed with every action taken, it would be madness after a Democratic win.”
Kernen continued, “Using a continuing resolution to force a shutdown just because you disagree with how the other side operates? That’s a poor precedent. It’s evident how detrimental it is, especially since you’ve already approved this in the House.”
In response, Jeffries attempted to shift the blame toward Republicans, arguing that they have the opportunity to reopen the government since they control both chambers of Congress. “They chose to shut it down, and they could bring it back online instantly if they so desired,” he contended.
“How does that work?” Kernen questioned.
“It’s straightforward. The truth is they prefer it shut down. This administration has prioritized toughness from the start. The sensible approach would be to sit down and negotiate a bipartisan solution,” Jeffries retorted.
House Speaker Mike Johnson mentioned that Congress could revisit the extension of the Obamacare tax credit post-passage of a continuing resolution to fund the government.
Jeffries and other Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, incorrectly indicated that the funding bill wasn’t a straightforward continuing resolution but rather a one-off measure aimed at maintaining current spending levels. However, the Committee for a Responsible Budget, a bipartisan organization, clarified that the resolution was “the clearest CR possible,” according to a report in the New York Times.
