Jeffries says Democrats ‘willing to find common ground’ with Johnson

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, R-New York, said Sunday that House Democrats are pushing House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, on a bill that includes ways to keep the government funded past the March 2 deadline. ) and reiterated that “we intend to find common ground.” .

“My view from the beginning of this Congress has been that as House Democrats, we are ready and willing to find bipartisan common ground on any issue, anytime, anywhere, to make a living. , it’s better for the American people to address issues related to the economy, public safety and national security,” Jeffries said on WABC Sunday with host John Catsimatidis. He spoke in an interview on 770 AM’s “The Cats Roundtable.”

“And we should always be willing to do that. So Mike Johnson and I talk regularly and try to understand, ‘Where is the common ground?'” he added.

The lawmaker’s comments come as the House and Senate are currently embroiled in a battle over foreign aid to Ukraine. The Senate last week passed a national security spending package that includes $60 billion in aid for Ukraine, but Prime Minister Johnson has balked at the bipartisan bill and will bring it to the House of Commons, citing lack of border security. He suggested that he had no intention of doing so. Contains countermeasures.

“[In] “Unless we receive any changes to border policy from the Senate, the House of Commons will have to continue to take charge of these important issues on its own,” Johnson said in a statement. “America deserves better than what’s going on in the Senate.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York also traveled to Ukraine with a delegation of Congress on Friday to press Prime Minister Johnson to pass the bill.

The House last week released its own bill that combines aid to Ukraine and border provisions sought by Republicans. As Russia marks the second anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine, a bipartisan group of lawmakers called on lawmakers to support the bill.

Congress is also grappling with the possibility of another government shutdown. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Friday that a series of spending bills would be brought forward as a single package into next week, sources said.

While government shutdown drama has divided Congress in the past, Jeffries said the two parties may not necessarily agree but should be able to work together professionally.

“We also recognize that there will be times when we disagree…but I think we have made a decision to agree to disagree without causing discomfort to each other.” he said.

“We need less confusion and more common sense in Washington,” Jeffries added.