Tensions flare on Capitol Hill over government shutdown: ‘Keep your mouth shut’

Tensions boiled over in public view on Capitol Hill on Wednesday as the government shutdown stretched into its eighth day with no apparent movement toward resolving the impasse.

An intense face-to-face confrontation played out in the hallway between House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and New York Republican Rep. Mike Lawler. 

“We got a one-year extension. Why don’t we sign on right now?” Lawler said as he approached Jeffries leaving a news conference, referring to a bipartisan bill introduced in the House to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies for a year.

“Did you get permission from your boss?” Jeffries responded. “Did your boss Donald Trump give you permission?”

“You can easily extend the ACA right now,” Lawler said — though his own party leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson, have indicated no willingness to support that bill as a shutdown compromise. 

Meanwhile, Jeffries wants a permanent extension of the tax credits, saying earlier this week that a one-year extension of the ACA is a “non-starter.”

“You are making a show of this to make yourself relevant,” Jeffries told Lawler. “You’re embarrassing yourself right now.” 

“Why don’t you just keep your mouth shut,” Jeffries added at one point.

Lawler responded, “Is that the way to talk?” 

Earlier, a chaotic scene unfolded outside the Speaker’s Office on Capitol Hill on Wednesday when Johnson crashed a gaggle between reporters and Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego on government funding and the swearing-in of Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva.

Gallego pressed Johnson on why he won’t swear in Grijalva, who won a special election in Arizona’s 7th Congressional District last month.

“We are happy she got elected … We have a long tradition here and a process of how we administer the oath to the members … We are going to do that as soon as we get back to work. But we need the lights turned back on, so we encourage both of you to go open the government,” Johnson responded. 

Gallego accused Johnson of delaying the swearing-in to prevent movement on the Jeffrey Epstein files discharge petition. Grijalva will be the 218th signature, once sworn in, which will force the House to hold a vote on the matter in the future. 

“That’s totally absurd,” Johnson said, claiming it has “nothing to do with Epstein.”

“You keep coming up with excuses,” Gallego said.  

Johnson accused the Democratic lawmakers of holding a “publicity stunt.”

Gallego again asked “why are you blocking her” swearing-in. 

“I am not blocking her! I just told you,” Johnson said, growing agitated.

“This is the longest time that the House of Representatives has been out of session…longest time for someone to be sworn… has to coincide with the fact that she has to be the deciding vote on the discharge petition?” Gallego responded. 

“I know why you’re upset,” Johnson responded. “You are getting a lot of heat because the government is closed down.”

Kelly urged Johnson to bring back the House to have “a serious negotiation” on Democrats’ health care demands. 

“Let me tell you why they are not here. Because the House did its job,” Johnson said. 

Then, Lawler appeared and chimed in — attacking the Democratic senators for shutting down the government. 

“Don’t sit here and try to lecture us,” Lawler said. “How about you go down the hall and go vote to open the government up. That would be great … Thank you very much.”

The Senate on Wednesday failed to advance two competing funding plans, one from Republicans and another from Democrats, to end the shutdown.

The group continued to talk over each other about health care premiums. 

“There’s big problems with Obamacare,” Johnson said. “Guys, we got to get the government open and turn the lights on.”

“Get your people in and stop covering up for the pedophiles,” Gallego said.   

Johnson responded, “That’s ridiculous!”

“Nobody’s covering up for pedophiles. So, knock it the hell off! You are absolutely absurd,” Lawler concluded.