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Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has once again instructed House lawmakers to remain in their home districts next week, keeping attention — and heat — in Washington on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for over a month.
A clerk in the House of Representatives announced on Friday that Johnson is designating Oct. 20 through Oct. 23 as a “district work period,” meaning no votes or House hearings are expected to be held for that time.
It’s part of the pressure strategy Johnson has implemented against Democrats amid the ongoing government shutdown, which is barreling into a fourth week with the GOP’s federal funding plan stalled in the Senate.
The House GOP passed its federal funding plan on Sept. 19, a seven-week extension of fiscal year (FY) 2025 government spending levels, called a continuing resolution (CR).
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It was aimed at giving congressional negotiators more time to strike a longer-term deal on FY 2026 spending.
But Democrats, infuriated by being sidelined in the talks, are threatening to reject any deal that does not include an extension of COVID-19 pandemic-era Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of December.
Democrats reason that millions of Americans are expected to see their healthcare premiums skyrocket even before the subsidies themselves expire at the end of this year, and with no plan in place.
Republican leaders have signaled openness to having those discussions at a later date — albeit not without reforming the system — but are holding firm to their demand that the CR be passed without any partisan policy riders attached.
Johnson told reporters earlier on Friday that he would give House members 48 hours’ notice before they had to return for any votes, something he’s stated both publicly and privately for weeks.
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But while his House GOP conference is holding largely united behind him, there are several Republicans growing uncomfortable with the lengthy recess period.
Both Reps. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., and Julie Fedorchak, R-N.D., expressed concern about the extended time at home during a private call among House Republicans earlier this month.
Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., has been more public with his pushback. He told MSNBC live on television Wednesday, “It is absolutely unacceptable to me and I think only serves further distrust.”
And Rep. Dave Valadao, while not explicitly pushing back on Johnson’s decision, told Fox News Digital that he was “kind of torn on that” before blaming Senate Democrats for putting the GOP in this situation.
Meanwhile, Rep. Johnny Olszewski, D-Md., the lone House Democrat who was in the chamber when the district work period was declared, criticized Johnson for keeping the chamber out of session.
“Congress has been absent here in the House for almost a month when there are critical conversations that need to be happening about reopening the government, lowering the cost of healthcare for millions of Americans, and also moving forward on critical issues,” Olszewski said.
In a sign of a likely lengthy shutdown, the Senate is preparing to hold a standalone vote next week on paying government workers who are forced to work during the shutdown, including active-duty military members.
Asked by reporters if the House would come back to vote on the measure if it passed the Senate, Johnson said Friday, “If we have a viable path, yes, but I suspect the Democrats are going to bat it down again.”
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