House Democrats were furious when eight Senate Democrats joined Republicans in voting to end the 42 day government shutdown, the longest ever recorded by the United States. They did not get the legislative items on their wish list that they were trying to secure. Axios reported that tensions boiled in a call between two elected Democrats on Monday night. One of them said, “people are [expletive] pissed.”
Axios said Tuesday that the vast majority of more than 12 House Democrats who vented on a call in private had negative words about the agreement. This call is a reflection of deep divisions in the Democratic Party, which some have expressed privately and some publicly, following the deal that was largely accepted by Democrats after they forced essential workers such as air traffic controllers to work without pay.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-LA has stated that he is confident the bill will pass on Wednesday.
In the deal that the eight Democrat Senators made with Republicans, they promised a vote by the Senate in December to renew the Affordable Care Act Tax Credits which expires at the end of the year. Democrats had originally negotiated a termination of credits by the end of 2022 in their budget legislation, despite the fact that an extension was the number one legislative priority for Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other top Democrats.
The bill requires 60 votes in order to be passed by the upper chamber. This leaves Democrats feeling disillusioned about their chances of getting an extension. The Senate and House Democrats are furious. Many have asked Schumer to step down as leader.
Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-NM, said that the people are “[expletive] pissed” at Democrats because they caved on the government shutdown. She told Axios,
Axios cites a House Democrat on the call who spoke under the condition of anonymity. “Nearly everyone [was] against” the agreement, the report states. According to Axios, nearly half the legislators who took part in the conference call either directly criticised Schumer or agreed with other speakers.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D, WA), former Chair of the House Progressive Caucus as well as a member of “Squad”, a far-left collective of activists and politicians said Schumer either “lost control” of his caucus, or “gave” his blessing to the agreement despite voting personally against it.
Hakeem Jeffries, the House Minority leader (D-NY), has also criticised the deal and implied that Democrats fell short of their goals in negotiations. After the announcement of the agreement on Sunday, stated that he did not believe the House Democratic Caucus would support the promise made by those who had been destroying the health insurance for the American public over the years.
Axios reports that Jeffries, despite objections from colleagues, has told them to end the rivalry and to focus their attention on the healthcare issue and not “a few senators”. Rep. Susie Lee, the leader representative of members from battleground districts in the House, has echoed Jeffries’s instructions to conference members. She told them that they should direct any shutdown-related complaints towards the GOP.
Senior House Democrats began emailing House members immediately after the Senate agreement was announced. They instructed them to vote against it. It is not a certainty, however. Jared Golden, a moderate representative from Maine who recently announced retirement, has signalled his support for the agreement.
A spokesperson for Axios said that Congressman Golden has never changed his position regarding the use of a shutdown to achieve legislative goals. Rep. Lee, who said that she was undecided about the proposal but agreed with Jeffries on many points regarding the fight against the government shutdown, may join Republicans as well on Wednesday night.
The call on Monday builds upon the criticism that has been directed at Schumer and eight Democrats by left-wing lawmakers, pundits, and voters.
Several elected Democrats went as far to demand that Minority Leader Schumer be immediately replaced.
Senator Schumer should be replaced because he is not effective anymore. What will you fight for if you don’t take the lead in stopping healthcare costs from skyrocketing? U.S. Rep. Ro. Khanna, D-CA posted on X.
