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Chatting with reporters on the Capitol, Home Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Chief John Thune stood agency of their determination to stay with a clear persevering with decision, relatively than negotiate with Democrats over well being care whereas the federal government is shut down. Johnson stated the seven-week funding extension that handed the Home would supply respiration room to barter with Democrats on long-term funding and their well being care priorities.
“In some unspecified time in the future, motive, good sense, frequent sense, has to take impact right here,” Thune stated.
Johnson stated the president “takes no pleasure” within the authorities shutdown, however acknowledged he is “trolling the Democrats” and “having enjoyable with” them within the meantime.
“Now, are they taking nice pleasure in that? No,” Johnson stated of the federal authorities’s funding freezes and potential cuts. “Is he trolling the Democrats? Sure. I imply, sure. As a result of that is what President Trump does, and persons are having enjoyable with this. However on the finish of the day, the selections are robust ones.”
Johnson stated he spoke “at size” with Workplace of Administration and Finances Director Russ Vought on Thursday, and Vought “takes no pleasure” in federal staff shedding jobs.
“The president takes no pleasure on this,” Johnson stated of impending federal layoffs and funding cuts. “But when Chuck Schumer’s going to provide Donald Trump the chance to find out what the alternatives are, he will train that chance, and that is the place we’re.”
Johnson was requested how the president may very well be each taking no pleasure in federal cuts and “having enjoyable” with the shutdown scenario.
“So the results are very severe on actual folks, actual Individuals,” Johnson stated. “We assist federal staff who do a terrific job in all these totally different areas. However what they’re making an attempt to have enjoyable with, making an attempt to make mild of, is to level out the absurdity of the Democrats’ place. They usually’re utilizing memes and all of the instruments of social media to do this. Some folks discover that entertaining, however on the finish of the day, the selections are exhausting ones, and I am telling you they are not taking any pleasure in that.”
