We are now only hours away from the SNAP and healthcare subsidy deadline, and people in Congress are starting to get squirrely.
Democrats are pounding the narrative that the GOP is going to make kids go hungry, and that message is starting to hit home.
To that point, there are whispers that there are some cracks in the GOP House caucus, as Republicans are not only questioning the president's strategy, but they are also worried about Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) plan to keep the House closed until the government shutdown is over.
Johnson had this move planned out well in advance, as he started to cancel House sessions the week before the government shutdown started.
At the time, Johnson stated, “We will come back, and get back to legislative session, as soon as the Senate Democrats turn the lights back on.”
He added, “That’s the fact. That’s where we are.”
Democrats were furious, especially because Johnson refused to swear in a legislator from their party who had just won a special election to fill an empty seat.
Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) has been sidelined, with Democrats saying that Johnson is doing this solely to prevent her from being the last signature needed to force a vote on Rep. Thomas Massie’s (R-KY) resolution for the release of the Epstein files.
Things got a little testy on the Hill over this after Sens. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) blindsided Johnson outside of his office over the House being closed for business.
Gallego stated, "Let's be clear, the reason [Rep.-elect] Adelita Grijalva is not here is because Mike Johnson wants to do two things. Number one, cover up for pedophiles on the Epstein list.”
He continued, "And number two, put his members in a really rough position when it comes to voting and extending these [Affordable Care Act] tax credits."
The House has now been shut down for more than a month, which means there will be a massive backlog of work once the doors reopen and members can start voting on legislation again.
The last vote was held on Sept. 19, so Republicans are now worried about how this will impact the president’s agenda, as they are going to have to have some marathon sessions in order to get legislation passed.
Among those concerned about how they will make up for the lost time was Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), as well as Reps. Stephanie Bice (R-OK) and Tim Cole (R-OK). One lawmaker, who spoke off the record, stated they better get ready for the equivalent of two-a-day sessions, making a reference to football training camps.
I am asking a bit of a different question. The government has been shut down for a month, and many of the departments that Trump wants permanently closed, such as the Department of Education, are closed, yet schools are operating just fine. I think we are seeing just how much fat is on the plate, and there clearly is plenty to trim.
