Partisan standoffs in the Capitol are bubbling into tense public confrontations as the government shutdown heads into its tenth day — with no end in sight.
On Wednesday alone, a pair of confrontations garnered significant attention as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle struggle to secure the upper hand in negotiations.
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) confronted House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) over his unwillingness to support his bill — a one-year extension of the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies — in what became a five-minute back-and-forth.
It all took place in front of gawking reporters following what has become Jeffries’ daily shutdown press conference, with Jeffries calling Lawler a “complete and total embarrassment.”
Hours earlier, Arizona Sens. Ruben Gallego (D) and Mark Kelly (D) staged a surprise press conference outside of Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) office as they demanded he bring the House back in to negotiate on health care extensions, and that he swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) during a pro forma session.
Johnson allowed a pair of Florida lawmakers to be sworn in during a pro forma session earlier in the year, leaving Democrats to cry foul that he isn’t doing the same thing this go-around. They claim he isn’t doing so because Grijalva would be the 218th signature on a discharge petition to force a vote on the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, which the Speaker has denied.
Johnson, with Lawler in tow, emerged from his office to confront the Arizona senators — with reporters capturing the tense back-and-forth that included Lawler telling them to “knock it the hell off.”
All told, it’s an encapsulation of a Capitol building that is boiling over as the government remains shuttered.
“Temperatures are rising, but it doesn’t do any good,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of GOP leadership and an ex-House member. “This is just YouTube moments, obviously, that people are going for.”
Tensions in recent days have heightened on the Senate side as upper chamber members struggle to find a shutdown off-ramp acceptable to each side. An idea by Republicans for a vote on the subsidies in exchange for ending the shutdown was promptly shot down.
Republicans were visibly upset on Thursday by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) remarking that “every day gets better for us,” referring to Democrats.
But what’s notable about the latest round of squabbles is that they are largely House-centric — and the chamber isn’t even in session.
Johnson on Thursday nodded to the rising tension across the Capitol complex, going so far as to back up his decision to keep the House of session until the government is reopened.
“This gets personal. Emotions are high. People are upset. I’m upset, and I’m a very patient man,” Johnson said in a press conference. “So, is it better for them, probably, to be physically separated right now? Yeah, probably is, frankly.”
Republicans in the upper chamber are glad to keep the rambunctious representatives away from Washington.
“It’s further confirmation that it would be a bad idea for the Speaker to bring the House back anytime soon. I understand the tensions,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), who criticized the Arizona Democrats’ move.
“It’s just kids being kids,” Cramer continued about the House absences. “And the idle time often turns into stupid time.”
Others agreed.
“If there were another 400 people roaming the halls with not a whole lot to do, that could spell trouble,” Capito added.
Contentious back-and-forths between lawmakers have become relatively common-place in recent years, especially toward the end of lengthy stretches of time in-session without an intervening recess.
Two years ago, after the House had endured government funding fights and a three-week chaos that followed the shocking removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), 10 consecutive weeks of being in session had led to threats of physical confrontations — with an accusation of McCarthy elbowing another Republican and Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) challenging the head of the Teamsters to a fight during a hearing.
This time, it’s the opposite as the House has been out of town for more than two weeks, and could be heading toward another week absent any movement.
“Lawler’s Exhibit A. He was cruising for a fight,” Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said about the “stir crazy” nature of some members. “It’ll be week three where they’re on a siesta.”
The anger is spilling over on the House floor, too, even as the Speaker keeps the chamber from voting.
Yelling erupted in a pro forma session on Wednesday as Republicans again ignored Democratic attempts to get a commitment to swear in Grijalva. Rep. Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.) led a small group of Democrats on the House floor and attempted to be recognized by the chair.
Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho), who was presiding as Speaker pro tempore during the brief pro forma session, gaveled out as they shouted.
“That’s un-democratic,” Stanton said after the gavel struck.
Some members, however, think temperatures could get warmer. After all, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) once had to be restrained as he lunged at former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) during the drawn-out election of McCarthy in January 2023.
“[The anger] is modestly worse than it usually is, but not dramatically,” said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.).
“When you see a stabbing, that’s when you’ll know there’s a new record,” he added.
Updated at 7:02 a.m. EDT
