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“It was completely and utterly foolish and pointless in the end, as we’ve said all along,” Johnson continued. “I just want to apologize to any Americans who are out there who still have flight cancellations or delays today. I want to apologize to the many American families who were made to go hungry over the last several weeks, our troops and other federal employees who were wondering where their next paycheck would come from. All of that’s on the Democrats.”
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House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, also a Republican from Louisiana, expressed optimism that the standoff would finally end within hours. “We’re going to get this government back open today,” he told reporters.
Scalise said debate on the funding bill is scheduled to start around 5 p.m., with final votes expected between 7 and 7:30 p.m. “I’m very confident the bill’s going to pass,” he said.
The Louisiana Republican also addressed the issue at the heart of the shutdown—the Democrats’ push to extend health insurance tax credits. Scalise made it clear House Republicans will not mirror the Senate’s concessions. “We’re always willing to work with Democrats to move good policy that helps American families,” he said, “but we draw a line on more Obamacare subsidies.”
When asked whether he would bring a Senate-passed Affordable Care Act measure to the floor, Scalise replied, “I’ve got to see whatever they might pass.”
“If they’re just looking at shoveling money to insurance companies to mask the high cost of Obamacare, that’s a nonstarter,” he added.
The House is set to convene at 4 p.m. to swear in Rep. Raúl Grijalva before taking up the rule for the spending bill. The rule vote is expected between 5 and 5:30 p.m. If approved, debate and a final vote are slated for the 7 p.m. hour—marking the moment Johnson predicts the shutdown saga will finally come to an end.
