Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Thursday mentioned the onus for the looming lapse in navy pay falls squarely on Democrats for his or her refusal to help a GOP spending package deal.
In a uncommon C-SPAN look, the primary for a sitting Speaker since 2001, Johnson took an emotional name from a lady who mentioned her husband serves within the navy, and the household — together with two “medically fragile children” — can be devastated by a pause in pay as a result of “we live paycheck to paycheck.”
“I am begging you to pass this legislation,” she mentioned. “My kids could die.”
Johnson expressed his sympathies, then mentioned the ball is within the courtroom of Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Democrats, who’ve blocked the GOP’s persevering with decision, which might fund the federal government by way of Nov. 21.
“This is what keeps me up at night,” he mentioned. “The Republicans are the ones delivering for you. We had a vote to pay the troops. It was the continuing resolution three weeks ago.”
He added: “The Democrats are the ones preventing you from getting a check.”
Earlier within the week, Johnson had mentioned he is open to the concept of calling the Home again to Washington to vote on a stand-alone invoice to make sure that troops and air visitors controllers are paid, at the same time as the remainder of the federal government stays shut down. That concept is opposed by GOP leaders within the Senate, nonetheless, and on Wednesday, Johnson walked again his help for the stand-alone invoice.
With out congressional motion, navy personnel won’t obtain their first paychecks for the reason that shutdown, that are scheduled to exit Wednesday.
