House Speaker Claims Opposition Party Are Not Serious About Negotiations as Government Shutdown Persists

GOP legislative leader Mike Johnson charged the opposing party are “not serious” in negotiations aimed at resolving the federal government shutdown, entering its fifth day and expected to last into next week or longer.

Talks between the opposing political parties hit a standstill during the weekend, and no legislative action expected to end the standoff. Survey data found just 28% of Democratic voters and 23% of Republicans consider their party’s positions worth shutting down the government.

During an interview on a major news program, Johnson stated the House had done its work by passing a measure to keep the government financed but now it was up to the Senate “to turn the lights back on so that everyone can do their work”. He accused Democrats with not participating “in a serious negotiation”.

“They’re doing this for political protection because the Senate leader is afraid losing his next re-election bid for Senate reelection facing a challenge by a progressive candidate in New York, as this is becoming trendy in politics,” he remarked, referring to a New York congresswoman who may be looking to challenge the Senate leader for his seat in the coming election.

However, the minority leader, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, told the same program that a Republican senator made false statements recently when he claimed that Democrats weren’t truthful about their intentions related to medical coverage for immigrants without documentation.

“GOP members are deceitful since they’re trailing in the court of public opinion,” Jeffries said, noting his party was “standing up for the healthcare for American workers, of working-class Americans, for the middle class”.

The minority leader also addressed to comments by the former president on a social platform in which he called the Democratic party of “hate, evil, and Satan” alongside pictures of party figures, including left-leaning lawmakers, the Democratic Senate leader, the previous House speaker, and the former president and first lady.

Questioned if he could still negotiate with the ex-leader, Jeffries responded the ex-president’s conduct “is outrageous, it’s irrational, it’s unreasonable, and it speaks for itself. Citizens deserve better than lies, hostilities, manipulated media and the president spending all of his time on the golf course.”

Leaders of the political leadership have not had formal talks for almost a week while both parties attempt to secure political advantage before resuming negotiations.

Jeffries stated that since that meeting last Monday, “GOP leaders, including the former president, have gone radio silent and the Democratic party leadership “will continue to make clear, the Senate leader and myself, that we are ready to meet whenever and wherever, with anyone to resolve this matter with the earnestness that it deserves”.

The battle for high political ground continued on Sunday with Johnson claiming that the possibility of temporary federal employee furloughs, called furloughs, evolving into permanent dismissals “is a regrettable situation the administration wishes to avoid”.

A top White House economic adviser increased pressure on Democrats, saying the White House may initiate widespread job cuts of federal workers if the president decides discussions with the opposition are “absolutely going nowhere”.

The official stated on a national news program that the president and budget director “are lining things up and ready to take action if necessary, but hoping to avoid it”. But he predicted it is possible that Democrats might compromise.

“I believe all parties remain optimistic that when we get a new beginning at the beginning of the week, we can persuade the Democrats to see that it’s just common sense to prevent job losses of that nature,” the official commented.

But some fear Democrats have walked into a trap. The speaker stated Sunday that the administration had asked the Democratic leadership to keep the government open.

“Under these circumstances, where the Senate Democrats have decided to turn government control to the administration, they must take tough decisions,” he said, pointing to the budget director.

The budget director, the speaker stated, “must now examine the entire government, recognizing that the funding streams are discontinued and determine what are essential programs, policies, and staff. That’s not a job that he relishes. But he’s compelled to do it by the Democratic leader.”

The cycle of blame continued with the Senate leader telling a news network Johnson “doesn’t want to discuss the actual problem, the medical care crisis affecting citizens. So he puts up false narratives to try and divert attention.”

However, during a discussion set to broadcast on Monday, Johnson told a different network he views the problem of ending health subsidies – which Democrats prioritize in their bargaining stance – as one that can be addressed later.

“We essentially have a quarter-year for discussions in the White House and in the hall of Congress, that’s ample time,” Johnson said. “We require participants in good faith to negotiate together and have that discussion. This cannot happen when the government is shut down,” he added.

A prominent Democratic senator also speaking to the same news program was questioned whether his party members in the Senate would stay united after three Democratic senators defected to support GOP measures. He responded he was confident that all party members recognize that millions and millions of their constituents are about to be priced out to medical care”.

“We need a president who can act like an adult, who will negotiate and negotiate an end to their self-imposed healthcare crisis,” he stated. “Right now we don’t see that. We observe the ex-leader out on the golf course, we see the speaker telling his House colleagues to skip legislative sessions, that there’s no work for the federal government to do.”