House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (R-Louisiana) has reopened lines of communication between his office and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) to avert a government shutdown this weekend. The members said that they had informed the party that this had been done.
Democrats said Jeffries disclosed the development during a caucus meeting Friday morning.
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) told reporters that Jeffries' “communication lines have been reopened,” but added that the party leader “did not provide specifics.” [if] It might be the staff. ” But Mr Connolly added it was “good news”.
But Jeffries said after Friday's meeting that Republicans had yet to offer any proposals for a future course of action to stop the shutdown.
“House Democrats have not introduced any legislation that we can evaluate,” Jeffries told reporters.
Asked about a proposal floated by some Republicans to break up items like disaster relief, stopgap funding and economic assistance for farmers into separate bills, Jeffries said, “This is something that bothers me.'' “This is not an idea that has been presented to anyone in the House Democratic Caucus, including anyone in the House Democratic Caucus.” ”
House Republicans are struggling to move a stopgap funding plan across the finish line amid President-elect Trump's last-minute demands to include legislation to suspend the debt ceiling.
“Republicans recognize that they need to talk to us,” Connolly said, adding, “I hope we act today.”
Congress has about 12 hours to pass legislation that would keep the government funded or risk a government shutdown.
