Summary
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries challenged Speaker Mike Johnson.
- Offered to face him “any day this week” on prime time.
- Aims to highlight Democratic readiness to negotiate.
As Democrats dig in during the shutdown in an attempt to get an extension of tax credits for the health care marketplace established by the Affordable Care Act, the Democratic leader of New York wrote a letter to the Republican leader of the House of Representatives on Monday.
“I write to challenge you to a debate on the Floor of the House of Representatives any day of this week in primetime, broadcast live to the American people,”
Jeffries said.
Before departing for the Jewish high holidays last month, the House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution, a "clean" interim budget package. It hasn't come back, and Johnson said on Friday that this week is a district work week, meaning the House won't be back to take votes.
However, Jeffries added that the nation required bipartisan talks between the White House and congressional leadership and asked his opponent to present the argument to the people.
“Unfortunately, Donald Trump and your party decided to shut down the government because the GOP refuses to provide health care to everyday Americans,”
Jeffries said.
“Further, you have kept House Republicans on vacation instead of working with Democrats to reopen the government.”
Despite the fact that illegal immigrants are not eligible for federal benefits, Trump has resorted to disparaging Jeffries by posting multiple racist cartoons of Jeffries wearing a Mexican sombrero and accusing Democrats of attempting to provide health care benefits to undocumented immigrants.
What topics would Jeffries likely press Johnson on during primetime?
The ongoing government shutdown, showcasing the Republicans' refusal to enter into a bipartisan negotiation to reopen the government.
The effects of the shutdown on everyday Americans, pointing to disruptions to public services, as well as economic hardship.
Healthcare, specifically advocating for the extension of premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act, while critiquing the recent Republican practices that have cut Medicaid funding and reduced healthcare access for millions.
Calling out the “Republican health care crisis” if healthcare subsidies are to expire and warning insurance premiums, copays, and deductibles will rise sharply.