U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) and U.S. House of Representatives Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
Tom Williams | Michael A. McCoy | Reuters
Top House Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries on Monday challenged Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to a live public debate about the government shutdown.
“Given the urgency of the moment and the Republican refusal to negotiate a bipartisan agreement, a debate on the House Floor will provide the American people with the transparency they deserve,” Jeffries said in a letter to Johnson.
“It will also give you an opportunity to explain your my way or the highway approach to shutting the government down, when Democratic votes are needed to resolve the impasse that exists,” the New York Democrat told the leader from Louisiana.
Jeffries threw down the gauntlet on the sixth day of the federal government shutdown, which is dragging on with no end in sight as Republican and Democratic leaders dig in their heels on opposing funding priorities.
In the letter, Jeffries told Johnson he is game to debate on the House floor “any day this week in primetime, broadcast live to the American people.”
The House is out of session this week.
A spokeswoman for Johnson did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment on the letter.
This is developing news. Please check back for updates.
