By Staff Reporter |
House Speaker Mike Johnson scolded Arizona’s Democratic congressional leaders for their recent “publicity stunts” for fellow Democrat and Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva.
“It is no surprise that another Democrat politician from Arizona is trying to publicity stunt,” said Johnson. “I’ve explained this a thousand times: we are going to swear in Grijalva as soon as we get back to legislative session. So my advice to all the Democrats in Arizona is to tell their two senators Kelly and Gallego to do their job and open the government so we can do business.”
Senator Ruben Gallego issued a response that took offense, primarily, with Johnson not knowing his name. Gallego accused Johnson of being a “pedophile protector,” alluding to the push to release the Epstein files.
“It’s Gallego, not Gallegos or Gallegos, it’s Gallego,” said Gallego. “The fact is, you’re a pedophile protector. You’re protecting the pedophiles on the Epstein list, there’s just no denying that. And your idea that somehow us trying to make sure that 24 million Americans do not have their insurance rate premiums doubled is stopping you from doing your job is just pathetic bulls***.”
Gallego asked why Johnson wouldn’t swear Grijalva in when he swore in Republican representatives outside of session.
Kelly said Johnson’s reason for not swearing in Grijalva — requiring Democrats to end the shutdown — was a “lame excuse.”
“He doesn’t like losing the one-seat majority,” said Kelly.
Grijalva, too, claims Johnson is delaying her swearing in due to her support for the Epstein file release.
Johnson has stated publicly that he supports the release of the Epstein files, but has voted against measures that would potentially expose the identities of victims.
Grijalva would provide the vote needed to release the Epstein files under a bipartisan discharge petition that would release the files with limited redactions.
The government shutdown has gone on for over two weeks now and is quickly headed for three weeks.
On September 25, six days before the government shut down, the Arizona Chamber issued a statement urging Congress to pass a continuing resolution.
Likewise, five days before the government shut down, state legislative leaders issued a letter urging the U.S. Senate to pass a short-term continuing resolution.
The White House maintains a government shutdown tracker that includes estimated losses over time.
The projected impact to GDP for Arizona amounts to about $300 million per week, totaling $1.3 billion per month. At over two weeks into this government shutdown, projected GDP loss has swelled to over $600 million.
The estimated unemployment increase amounts to about 1,000 workers. Around 58,000 federal workers are working without pay or furloughed, which accounts for nearly two percent of the state workforce.
Once 30 days hits, the SNAP benefit losses (federal food assistance) will impact nearly 890,000 enrollees, of which 344,000 are children.
Small Business Administration loan delays amount to about $76 million. The federal contract spending cut amounts to around $560 million.
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