As the government shutdown drags into another week, neither President Donald Trump nor most House Republicans are even in town.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has opted to once again keep the lower chamber out of session this week, while Trump is on a multicountry trip in Asia.
Johnson has long stressed that Republicans have fulfilled their role by passing spending legislation. But the measure stalled in the Senate as Democrats have refused to support it because it doesn’t include an extension of health care subsidies that are set to expire.
“The House did its work ... and the most important thing is to get the government open. It’s the number one priority and number one responsibility of Congress, and the Senate Democrats have chosen not to do it,” Johnson said during a press briefing on Monday.
And the White House has maintained that it will only hold talks with Democrats after they support legislation to reopen the government.
