House GOP cancels more votes in escalation of shutdown strategy
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House Speaker Mike Johnson participates in a TV interview at the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 3. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
House Republicans on Friday cancelled plans to vote next week as the federal government shutdown dragged into its third day.
Why it matters: The move means Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is digging in against Democrats' demands to come to the table and negotiate a deal to reopen the government.
- The House voted last month to pass a bill that would extend 2024 funding levels until November, but Democrats largely opposed it because it lacked provisions to preserve health care access.
- The bill has stalled in the Senate, and Democrats continue to clamor for a discussion and Republicans refuse to budge.
State of play: The House had been scheduled to be in session from Tuesday, Oct. 7, to Friday, Oct. 10, but Johnson re-designated it to be what is called a district work period.
- In other words: Rather than being required to return to Washington, D.C., to vote on legislation, House members will be able to remain in their districts next week.
- The House is not scheduled to meet again until Oct. 14, meaning at least two weeks will have gone by since the government shutdown began before House members were gathered together on Capitol Hill.
What he's saying: At a Friday press conference with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), Johnson laid out his rationale for cancelling votes, essentially saying there is nothing to negotiate.
- "The House did its job. The House sent a bipartisan, very simple, very conventional, 24-page continuing resolution to keep the lights on," he said. "And it's been rejected by the Senate."
- Johnson signaled more cancelled votes ahead, saying the House will come back into session when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) "allows us to reopen the government."
The other side: Democrats railed against the move, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said in a statement that Johnson cancelled votes so Republicans could "continue their vacation."
- Johnson's decision, he said, will deprive "Americans of affordable healthcare" and further delay the swearing in of Rep-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), which in turns sets back a vote to release the Epstein files.
- House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) signaled at least some Democrats won't be in their districts next week despite the recess: "Democrats will be in Washington and ready to meet with them at any time to reopen the government."
Go deeper: How the government shutdown could disrupt daily life
