Government shutdowns are back on the table, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has made it clear: this isn't the first rodeo for the Republican Party. During his recent remarks at the Atlantic Festival 2024, Jeffries remarked on the GOP's history of resorting to shutdowns as part of their political strategy, calling it 'in the DNA of the Republican Party.' With 12 days left until the funding deadline, tensions are rising on Capitol Hill.
Just hours before Jeffries' comments, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., attempted to push through his own stop-gap spending bill, which included the controversial SAVE Act aimed at establishing stricter voting requirements. This proposal has drawn ire from Democrats, but Johnson faced more heat from within his own party, as several Republicans expressed their opposition to both the bill and the extension it proposed. The situation left the House divided and Johnson scrambling.
After the proposal failed 220 to 202— with 14 Republicans crossing party lines to vote against it—Johnson expressed his commitment to finding another solution. "We're on the field, and the quarterback is calling the play. We're going to run the play," he said, though it's unclear what the next step will be.
With pressure mounting, former President Donald Trump has made his stance very clear: no continuing resolution should pass without the SAVE Act included. Trump has publicly commanded GOP lawmakers to resist any negotiations until his demands are met, emphasizing the importance of this legislative measure before elections roll around next month.
Jeffries, meanwhile, is adamant about holding his ground. He characterized the Republican approach as extortion, emphasizing, "Donald Trump has ordered extreme MAGA Republicans to shut the government down if they can't push through Trump's Project 2025 agenda." He firmly rejected any perceived ransom, defending the best interests of the American people.
With Johnson stuck between appeasing his more radical party members and adapting to the realities of governance, the prospect of another government shutdown looms large. Jeffries cited historical examples of shutdowns instigated by Republican demands, painting the current scenario as simply another chapter of the same old story.
He invoked memories from the 1990s when then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich led the charge to shut the government down due to attempts to dismantle Medicaid. Jeffries also recalled the standoff from 2013, where the government was shutdown for 14 days as Tea Party conservatives demanded the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Most recently, he noted the unprecedented 35-day shutdown during Trump's presidency, alluding to Trump's insistence on funding for his proposed border wall, which he had initially promised Mexico would pay for.
Reflecting on how shutdowns have historically backfired on the Republicans, Jeffries remarked, "If you don’t agree, they shut the government down. It’s not hype, it’s historically grounded." He insisted there is no place for extreme demands within responsible governance.
The stakes have shifted. With only days remaining for Congress to reach consensus, the focus intensifies not only on passing necessary legislation but also on maintaining bipartisan decorum amid the growing cynicism of demagoguery. The pressure’s really on the Republican leadership to navigate these tricky waters or risk another shutdown disaster.
It seems Johnson and his GOP cohorts have some soul-searching to do, as legislators and constituents alike watch closely to see how this all pans out. Can they mend fences internally and reach common ground, or will they allow the age-old issues of partisanship lead to yet another costly government shutdown?
Time will tell what strategies will prevail, and whether Johnson can find the balance necessary to keep both sides of his party satisfied without succumbing to the pressures from Trump's faction. Clearly, the decisions being made—or avoided—over the next week will have lasting repercussions even as we inch toward the looming election.
