In the News

Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) joined House Republican leadership on day 23 of the Democrat government shutdown to call out the number two House Democrat for her recent statements implying that she views Americans suffering from the shutdown as “leverage.”

Click here or above to watch Whip Emmer’s remarks.

Whip Emmer: “‘Shutdowns are terrible. Of course there will be families that are going to suffer. We take that responsibility seriously, but it is one of the few leverage times we have.’ You’ve heard that three times now—a direct quote from the number two Democrat in the House, Katherine Clark. Meanwhile, in Massachusetts, which is Katherine Clark’s home state, 45,000 federal workers are being forced to figure out how they’re going to pay their bills next week. More than 1 million SNAP enrollees and 123,000 women, infants, and children who require nutritional assistance, they’re going to be impacted, Katherine. Telehealth services and a home hospital program have been put on pause. Tens of thousands of travelers who come through Massachusetts airports are at risk of experiencing flight cancellations and delays, as you heard from the secretary this morning. Obviously, we could go on and on about the ways people in Whip Clark’s home state and across the country are being forced to suffer because the Democrats refuse to reopen the government. But they don’t care. Because to them, suffering is ‘leverage.’ To them, this is one big political game. It doesn’t matter that millions of Americans are hurting, because, as Chuck Schumer said, every day that the government is shut down ‘gets better for us.’ What a disgusting, despicable mentality to have. The truth of the matter is, Democrats could end their shutdown madness today if they would simply do their jobs. All they have to do is stop playing politics, pass our clean CR, and reopen the government for the people they were elected to serve. We’re going to continue giving them opportunities to do the right and reasonable thing. The question is not whether they are able, it’s whether they are willing. I hope they come to their senses soon, but until then, we will hold them to account, and we expect everyone in this room to do the same.”