Heated Exchange at Capitol During Government Shutdown
Tensions at the Capitol reached a boiling point on Wednesday as two members of the House engaged in a fiery argument on the eighth day of the 2025 government shutdown.
Representative Mike Lawler from New York confronted House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries over a bipartisan initiative aimed at extending subsidies for Obamacare, a contentious point in the ongoing federal funding discussions. Lawler, perhaps trying to change the topic, also teased Jeffries about his potential support for Democratic socialist Zoran Mamdani in the New York mayoral race, to which Jeffries remained silent.
“First off, I don’t answer to you. You don’t even answer to yourself,” Jeffries shot back.
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The argument escalated when Lawler insisted that Jeffries back a bipartisan bill that would prolong pandemic-related enhancements to Obamacare subsidies for another year. The funds are set to run out at the end of 2025 without Congressional action, and Democrats want to tackle this issue before they agree to a spending bill to end the shutdown.
“Why not sign it now for a one-year extension?” Lawler pressed.
Jeffries, visibly upset, responded, “Did you ask your boss for permission? Did Donald Trump give you the go-ahead?”
“He’s not my boss,” Lawler countered.
The two debated for nearly five minutes, accusing each other of impeding government operations.
“You’re an embarrassment,” Jeffries declared, referring to Lawler’s earlier support of a major policy bill from Trump. “I voted for the tax cut bill that provided the largest tax cut in history. The average New Yorker would see a $4,000 tax break. Are you against that?” Lawler asked.
In response, Jeffries remarked, “That’s an embarrassment. You voted for the largest Medicaid cuts in American history.”
As the exchange continued, Jeffries pointed at Lawler, stating, “You won’t talk to me, and yet you keep on yapping. Why not just be quiet?”
Lawler retaliated, “Oh, is that how you speak?”
Amid this back-and-forth, Lawler repeatedly tried to ask Jeffries if he would support a temporary extension of Obamacare. The conversation eventually veered, with Jeffries criticizing House Republicans for staying in their districts during the shutdown—a strategy pushed by House Speaker Mike Johnson to blame Senate Democrats for rejecting a Republican funding proposal.
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“You wanted the Republicans to be here, but I’m here too,” Lawler responded. “Just sign the bill extending the Affordable Care Act.” Jeffries then questioned, “Is Donald Trump backing this?” suggesting that a greater number of Republican endorsements would be necessary for the bill to pass.
At one point, Jeffries asked, “Are you good at math?”
Lawler replied, “I think so. There are 215 Democrats.”
The tensions on the Hill surged just hours after Speaker Johnson confronted two Senate Democrats about their demand to swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva. Senate Democrats rejected a Republican funding proposal for the sixth time, likely extending the government shutdown to nine days.
Meanwhile, the House passed a bill to maintain federal funding levels through November 21, allowing lawmakers time to finalize a budget for fiscal year 2026. However, Democrats expressed their discontent about being sidelined in the funding discussions, insisting they would only support a deal that includes an extension of the expiring Obamacare subsidies.
