House Speaker Criticizes Democratic Shutdown
During a press conference on Monday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) addressed the ongoing Democratic shutdown, now in its 13th day. He asserted that Democrats are “completely rudderless” and did not foresee an immediate resolution.
Johnson accused Democrats of engaging in “expensive political gamesmanship.” He noted that it has been three weeks since they have blocked paychecks for the U.S. military and approximately 2.2 million federal workers, which has put essential services at risk. “They’ve been trying to block these checks,” he stated. He expressed gratitude towards President Trump for his leadership, highlighting that efforts are being made to ensure military pay by October 15 while waiting for the Democrats to cease their “hostage” tactics.
Johnson voiced frustration with Democratic strategies, claiming they aim to harm Americans through political maneuvers and false narratives. He reminded the public that Republicans have consistently voted to reopen the government using straightforward continuing resolutions, but Democrats have resisted, presumably to satisfy their far-left constituents.
“We passed a clean, bipartisan CR that funds essential roles like the military, TSA agents, and Border Patrol. We took that vote three weeks ago, yet the bill is still languishing in the Senate, where Democrats have voted seven times to continue the shutdown,” he noted, referencing a chart that indicated Democrats’ repeated rejections of a clean CR.
He emphasized that this resolution is nonpartisan, lacking any additional spending or partisan ties, and claimed that Democrats have supported similar bills during the Biden administration on numerous occasions.
Johnson pointed out that the shutdown was unnecessary, but felt all Americans should understand its origins. He remarked that it stems from Democrats prioritizing political games over the welfare of citizens, stating that today’s Democratic Party lacks leadership and vision.
He also referred to the party’s poor polling numbers, describing their shutdown as a “hail Mary.” This sentiment was shared by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
“He tracks polls closely, aware that his party is upset about the decision made in March to support a clean CR. While it was the right move then, his current political considerations have shifted,” Johnson said, asserting that Schumer is prioritizing his political survival over the well-being of American families. “To secure his position, Schumer risks the livelihoods of people to appease the far-left base. This scenario transcends Chuck Schumer,” he argued.
Johnson further claimed that Democrats are fearful of their radical base, which inhibits their ability to collaborate with Republicans and the President when it would benefit the public.
On the other hand, he described Republicans as governing with “common sense,” pointing to tax cuts and efforts to address the border crisis as examples of their priorities. “What have the Democrats contributed?” he asked. “It’s just a distraction.”
See the full press release below.
