WASHINGTON — A Democratic congresswoman interrupted a press conference by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Wednesday, demanding he talk to Democrats to negotiate an end to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
As Johnson prepared to take questions from reporters in front of the House steps, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), shouting from behind a row of reporters, asked Johnson if he needed a phone number for House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.).
“We’re having a press conference, thank you,” Johnson said, possibly not recognizing Houlahan was a member of Congress, since lawmakers don’t usually shout from the reporter area.
“I am part of the American people,” Houlahan said.
“Yes ma’am, and you should respect free speech.”
“YOU should respect free speech,” Houlahan responded. “I’m asking you a question, if you’re ready to have a conversation with the other side. …. You have an obligation to call the leadership of both parties and bring us together and solve this problem together, Mr. Speaker.”
A Capitol Police officer then tried to escort Houlahan away. She explained she was a member of Congress and showed her identifying pin. She then stood there, shaking her head, while Johnson, who had figured out he was speaking to an elected Democrat, said he’d already tried to bring the parties together.
“We did that before the shutdown began. We went to the White House. We went and sat in front of the Resolute Desk. We brought Leader Jeffries and Leader Schumer in. And we had a discussion,” Johnson said. “The president said, ‘Please don’t shut the government down. It would cause all this pain to the American people.’ … You voted to shut down the government. You voted to stop SNAP benefits. You voted to not pay the troops, not pay TSA, Border Patrol. You may regret it now, but that’s your vote and it’s on the record.”
Houlahan said Johnson had misrepresented what happened, though it’s true Democrats voted against a basic government funding bill because it did not address health insurance subsidies that are expiring at the end of the year. The funding impasse shows no signs of resolving soon, even as government employees continue working without pay and millions will see delayed and reduced food benefits this month.
It’s not the first apparently impromptu confrontation during the shutdown. Last month Sens. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) argued with Johnson in a public space outside his office, and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) beefed with Jeffries outside one of his press conferences later that day. None of the confrontations has had any impact on the stalemate over government funding.
