House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) hit again at NCS’s Dana Bash throughout a grilling over the ongoing authorities shutdown on Thursday
Johnson joined Bash on Inside Politics, the place he positioned all of the blame for the shutdown on Democrats, and stated there shall be no compromises until the full, “clean” persevering with decision favored by Republicans is handed.
Democrats are at present at a standstill with Republicans over authorities funding, demanding that their help for the CR be tied to an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies. The shutdown has lasted 30 days, and the meals help program SNAP will run out of funds by November 1.
Bash made notice of bipartisan calls to fund SNAP, and requested Johnson whether or not it was an “all or nothing” technique for Republicans.
“So just to put a pin in it, all or nothing, full government funding for the entire government or you’re not going to bring anything up on the House floor even if the Senate finds some sort of compromise,” she requested.
“Yes because they’re trying to play games and we’re not interested in doing that. That’s the position of Republican leadership in the Senate and the House and the White House as well. We have to do well and right by all the American people,” Johnson stated.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) has launched laws that might fund SNAP, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (R-NY) stated Democrats would help the invoice if it was delivered to the flooring.
Johnson “rejected the premise” of Bash’s query after she requested why the thousands and thousands who would possibly quickly lose meals help don’t inspire Congress to behave. The Speaker claimed he can’t legally approve contingency funds with out prior approval of Congress, one thing Bash famous Democrats have rejected.
“You all have found ways to pay members of the military, which people understand, and WIC, which also people understand. But why are you drawing the line now on 40 million Americans who literally will not be able to eat without government assistance? Why not help them in the short term?” Bash requested.
“Wait a minute, wait, I reject the premise of the question,” Johnson shot again. “I’m not drawing the line. The Democrats are drawing the lines. If we had a contingency fund that we could use, that would be done. The White House has demonstrated over and over, the executive branch, all the cabinet secretaries are doing everything they can to mitigate and reduce the pain. But that ability is not available for SNAP because the contingency funds had to be prior author authorized by Congress.”
Check out the alternate under:
DANA BASH: So simply to place a pin in it, all or nothing, full authorities funding for the whole authorities otherwise you’re not going to convey something up on the House flooring even when the Senate finds some type of compromise?
MIKE JOHNSON: Yes as a result of they’re attempting to play video games and we’re not keen on doing that. That’s the place of Republican management in the Senate and the House and the White House as properly. We must do properly and proper by all the American folks and we have to do it now.
BASH: Can I simply ask you, since you talked about it, that you just all have discovered methods to pay members of the army, which individuals perceive, and WIC, which additionally folks perceive. But why are you drawing the line now on 40 million Americans who actually won’t be able to eat with out authorities help? Why not assist them in the quick time period?
JOHNSON: Wait a minute, wait, I reject the premise of the query. I’m not drawing the line. The Democrats are drawing the traces. If we had a contingency fund that we may use, that might be accomplished. The White House has demonstrated again and again, the government department, all the cupboard secretaries are doing every part they will to mitigate and cut back the ache. But that skill shouldn’t be accessible for SNAP as a result of the contingency funds needed to be prior writer approved by Congress.
BASH: Well, they are saying that that’s not what the regulation reveals, and positively the administration has proven that they’re very blissful to maneuver cash round with out Congress saying sure.
JOHNSON: No, Dana, it’s simply merely not true. It’s already been adjudicated. When they tried to try this in the first Trump administration, the GAO [Government Accountability Office], for instance, decided it was unlawful. And the Democrats, after they voted towards the clear CR, they voted down that risk. So it’s not legally accessible to try this. Believe me, the White House has already demonstrated again and again they’d use it if it was accessible. It’s not. The Democrats have put the American folks on this disaster, and they’re the ones which have the energy to finish it. They may do it at the moment in the event that they really feel sufficient strain to take action.
Watch above by way of NCS.
The submit ‘I Reject the Premise!’ Mike Johnson Brawls With NCS’s Dana Bash Over Government Shutdown first appeared on Mediaite.