Speaker Mike Johnson stated that the House will not reconvene until the government shutdown ends, intending to pressure Senate Democrats to support the GOP-led stopgap spending bill. Johnson canceled previously scheduled House votes and announced the cancellation of the upcoming Tuesday session, with further cancellations expected. This decision has drawn criticism from Democratic leaders, who are demanding negotiations for a bipartisan spending bill. Johnson denies these actions are politically motivated, citing the need for lawmakers to assist constituents during the shutdown.
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During a C-SPAN call, a Republican voiced profound disappointment in her party, specifically criticizing the Speaker for not reconvening the House to address the government shutdown, fearing her children’s essential medication would be jeopardized. The Speaker, in response, deflected blame onto Democrats. Another caller, a Democrat, criticized the shutdown and addressed concerns about the deployment of troops within the United States, framing the situation as an internal conflict.
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Speaker Mike Johnson faced a barrage of criticism during a live C-SPAN call-in segment, with callers from various political backgrounds expressing their grievances. One particularly emotional Republican military mother accused Johnson of failing troops and their families, citing impending missed paychecks. Johnson responded by expressing sympathy and blaming Senate Democrats, but his explanations were largely met with further criticism. Callers also challenged Johnson on Republican efforts to gut Medicaid, rural hospital closures, and Donald Trump’s controversial statements, highlighting the difficult position the Speaker found himself in.
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During a government shutdown, House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing mounting pressure from Democratic lawmakers. Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego urged Johnson to swear in an Arizona congresswoman-elect, but Johnson refused, linking the swearing-in to the end of the shutdown. Gallego accused Johnson of preventing the congresswoman from forcing a vote on releasing the Epstein files. The congresswoman-elect’s vote is seen as crucial in potentially forcing the release of these files.
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Arizona’s seventh congressional district has been without representation for weeks due to House Speaker Mike Johnson’s refusal to swear in Adelita Grijalva, the representative-elect. This unprecedented move is seen as a tactic to silence a political opponent and deny voters their representation, possibly to prevent Grijalva from supporting a vote on releasing confidential files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The delay is also speculated to provide the White House time to pressure Republicans to withdraw support for the petition. Ultimately, Johnson’s actions set a dangerous precedent and raise questions about future transfers of power, particularly if a Democratic majority is elected.
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Following her victory in a special election, Adelita Grijalva of Arizona awaits being sworn in to the House of Representatives. Despite having been duly elected, Speaker Mike Johnson has delayed her swearing-in, which is thought to be related to her intent to sign a discharge petition requiring the Justice Department to release Epstein files. This delay has prompted criticism, especially since it is contrasted with the Speaker’s swift action for Republican members in the past. Grijalva emphasizes that she is unable to represent her constituents fully until she can officially take office.
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Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego confronted House Speaker Mike Johnson in the Capitol regarding the delayed swearing-in of Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva. Johnson initially stated Grijalva would be sworn in “as soon as she wants,” but later linked the swearing-in to the end of the government shutdown. Democrats believe the delay is due to Grijalva’s intention to sign a petition forcing a vote on the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The petition requires 218 signatures to force the vote and Grijalva would make that the number.
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Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., has yet to be sworn into office nearly two weeks after her election. During an interview, Grijalva expressed suspicion at the delay, as she has not received any communication from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., regarding a timeline. Grijalva believes the hold-up may be due to her planned signature on the discharge petition for the Epstein files, which would become the 218th vote needed to force a full chamber vote. She also highlighted the negative impact on her constituents, who are left without representation during a crucial time.
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Speaker Mike Johnson raised concerns regarding back pay for furloughed federal workers, citing a new White House memo challenging the long-standing practice of automatically compensating them after a government shutdown. The memo suggests Congress must explicitly approve back pay, a departure from the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, which was previously interpreted to guarantee reimbursement. This shift has sparked controversy, with Democrats criticizing the move, while some Republicans express uncertainty. The uncertainty surrounding back pay adds tension to the ongoing budget standoff, with an estimated 750,000 federal workers facing an uncertain future.
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Speaker Mike Johnson is delaying the swearing-in of Congresswoman-elect Adelita Grijalva until Democrats agree to end the government shutdown. A leadership aide stated this is due to the chamber’s legislative session. Johnson previously swore in other Republican representatives during pro forma sessions, but has not done so for Grijalva. Grijalva’s potential role in forcing a vote on releasing Jeffrey Epstein case files has fueled speculation for the delay, which Johnson denies is related.
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John Q. Hosedrinker