Oct. 8 (UPI) — U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, both from Arizona, confronted House Speaker Mike Johnson over healthcare and swearing in a new representative while outside his office.
Kelly and Gallego held an impromptu press event outside the Speaker’s office on Wednesday, and accused him of recessing the House of Representatives to prevent budget negotiations amid the federal government shutdown, The Hill reported.
“The guy who works in this office right here is keeping all of his Republican colleagues and his caucus on an extended summer vacation,” Kelly told media, according to The Hill.
“He will not come back to negotiation with us,” Kelly added. “We are ready.”
Gallego accused Johnson, R-La., of delaying the swearing in of Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., after Johnson canceled House votes this week amid the shutdown.
Grijalva won a special election on Sept. 23 to replace her late father, Rep. Raul Grijalva, to represent Arizona’s Seventh Congressional District.
Gallego also accused Johnson of trying to “cover up for pedophiles on the [Jeffrey] Epstein list” and preventing a possible House vote on extending Affordable Care Act tax credits that expired on Sept. 30, Politico reported.
“There’s a way for all of us to actually get things done, protect the government workers, extend these affordable healthcare tax credits,” Gallego said, “but not when Johnson’s keeping his people out of session.”
Johnson emerged from his office to dispute Gallego’s claims and said he intends to swear in Grijalva when the federal government reopens.
“I am anxious to administer the oath to her as soon as you guys vote to open up the government,” Johnson said.
Johnson recessed the House for one week after it adjourned on Tuesday and has said House Republicans would negotiate the tax credits and other healthcare issues after a continuing resolution is passed to reopen the federal government.
A House-approved continuing resolution would fund the federal government for seven weeks while continuing to negotiate a 2026 fiscal year budget, but the Senate has not mustered the 60 votes needed to approve it.
Senate Democrats have drafted a counter proposal, which would fund the federal government through Oct. 31 while adding $1.5 trillion in additional spending over the next decade to extend the ACA tax credits and expand Medicaid.
Congressional Republicans have said the Senate Democrats’ proposed resolution would enable states to provide healthcare for “illegal migrants,” which the Democratic Party Caucus has denied.
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