Speaker Johnson: Dems Digging In to Shield Partisan Spending

[ad_1] Speaker Mike Johnson on Sunday rejected polls blaming President Donald Trump for the continued authorities shutdown, insisting that Democrats have "dug of their heels" to guard partisan spending whereas Republicans have repeatedly voted to reopen the federal government.

"We reject all of this," the Louisiana Republican stated on "Fox Information Sunday." "This is not about successful a political contest right here. Actual individuals are shedding."

Democrats, Johnson added, "have voted 14 instances now to maintain the federal government closed — to dam SNAP advantages, to stop paying the troops."

Additional, the Democrats have "shut the federal government down over restoring free healthcare for unlawful aliens as a part of their $1.5 trillion partisan want record," he stated.

Johnson added that the affect on bizarre People is rising, citing thousands and thousands of households counting on meals help and different help packages.

"Forty-two million recipients of SNAP are in jeopardy proper now," he stated.

"Ladies, infants, and kids are operating out of funds from the diet packages that President Trump and the White Home have heroically funded to date," he added. "It is changing into actual for an increasing number of individuals."

Requested about Trump's current feedback urging Senate Republicans to get rid of the filibuster, Johnson stated he understood the president's frustration.

"He is a big-hearted president who needs everybody to get their providers — veterans' care, SNAP advantages, all of it," he stated.

"He is tried every little thing he can to barter," Johnson continued. "The filibuster has historically been a safeguard towards the worst impulses of the far left, however we'll see what the Senate does."

Johnson additionally rejected Democrat claims that Trump is "utilizing individuals as pawns," calling that accusation "absurd."

He stated Trump and Home Republicans have supplied clear payments to fund the federal government, whereas Democrats are utilizing the shutdown "as leverage to please their far-left base."

Johnson accused Democrat leaders equivalent to Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., of "weaponizing starvation" and ignoring bipartisan options. He stated the president "is bending over backward to deal with the American individuals."

On healthcare, Johnson dismissed criticism from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who claims that GOP leaders are withholding their well being reform plans.

"That is absurd," he stated.

"We will not reveal all of our technique on convention calls as a result of they're leaked in actual time," he added. "However our committees have been working across the clock."

"We printed 60 or 70 pages of reform concepts years in the past, and we're finalizing a plan that may carry down premiums," Johnson stated. "Democrats created Obamacare, and premiums are up 60% since 2010. Solely Republicans will repair that."

Turning to overseas coverage, Johnson defended current U.S. strikes on drug-running boats, saying the actions are legally justified and based mostly on "beautiful intelligence."

"What the president and administration are doing is defending the homeland — his primary accountability," Johnson stated.

"Narcoterrorists will likely be handled like al-Qaida," he continued. "These boats may kill tens of 1000's of People."

Johnson additionally dismissed experiences that he has delayed the swearing-in of Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., to dam votes associated to the discharge of disgraced financier and intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein paperwork, calling that declare "ridiculous."

He stated that Grijalva, who would solid the deciding vote within the matter, will likely be seated when Congress returns to common session.

Johnson famous that the Home Oversight Committee has already launched 43,000 pages from Epstein's property, together with flight logs and monetary ledgers.