Florida Parish News

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) addressed the press in Washington, D.C., joined by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and House Committee on Education and Workforce Chairman Tim Walberg (R-Mich.). The group discussed concerns over Democrats voting against food assistance programs, pay for federal employees, and benefits for women, infants, and children.

Scalise focused on urging Senate Democrats to support the House Republicans' clean continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government. He said: “Let's remember when the Senate votes today, they're not voting on some big, massive omnibus bill, a bill that resolves all of our differences. If you're one of these Democrats, and it only takes five to get this government back open, and you're struggling with the decision: do you offend your far-left radical base, it's about to elect the new leader of their Democrat Party in Mamdani in New York, or do you stand up for the tens of millions of people around the country who are actually suffering? And if you vote yes today, are you giving anything up?

“What's in that bill? A clean continuing resolution that violates any of your principles? There's nothing. Again, that bill does not solve our differences. That bill just keeps the lights on. That bill just allows federal workers to get paid for the work that they're doing – those that have to show up and work and keep our airports open. The air traffic controllers who are working under high incredible stress in a normal time so that planes can land and take off safely with 150 plus people on each one of those planes without worrying about the stress that as soon as they get off the job, they've got to go do a second shift as an Uber driver because they can't put food on the table because Democrats shut down the government. Hopefully, they weigh that when they cast their vote today.”

He also highlighted concerns about funding for key assistance programs such as SNAP and WIC. “We see every day, of course, unfortunately, more and more consequences to the suffering Democrats are causing. We know on the SNAP program, 42 million people. And yes, the courts are trying to work with the White House to find ways to move some other money around. But as we know, even if they're able to move money around, it doesn't make that program whole. The only way to make the SNAP program whole is by Democrats opening up the government. It's real straightforward. You vote yes or no. You vote yes because you want to put food on the table for 42 million low-income families. But if you vote no, maybe because you're afraid of some radicals in Portland or San Francisco or New York City, when you vote no, you are taking food off the table for 42 million low-income people, the least among us who need that help.

“6.7 million going without Women Infant Children program funding WIC program is really really important again to very low income people who need that help Democrats have no problem shutting off that funding causing that suffering and use their term because they think they're getting some leverage We still don't know what leverage is for They're trying leverage American people can't even articulate what is they want Yeah $1 5 trillion wishlist crazy items like free health care illegals gutting rural health care fund Is really leverage want use American people deny WIC funding

“Two million people in military two million servicemembers [at risk of] going without pay What do say them Oh gee whiz They were so afraid Mamdani New York couldn't vote pay men women uniform keeping country safe risking lives while families wondering if going able put food table What profile courage It's gutless 700000 federal employees without pay 670000 federal workers furloughed 5 9 million households at risk losing home heating services under LIHEAP program”

Scalise noted support from labor unions and airlines for passing a clean CR: “We all know all different groups have come out over over They've not said let's pass some big sweeping omnibus bill They've just said pass clean CR House passed over month ago National Air Traffic Controllers Association American Federation Government Employees Teamsters Coalition Airlines Pilots Association Association Airlines' Association NetJets Association Shared Aircraft Pilots Southwest Airline Pilots Additionally United Airlines Delta Airlines American Airlines Southwest Airlines have all called same thing – is for Democrats Senate pass clean CR Message couldn't be clear Their mission can't be more direct You just show up today do your job vote yes It doesn't solve all differences It just gives us few more weeks start negotiating differences so many things but while not holding American people hostage End this madness Democrats Open up government”

Steve Scalise has represented Louisiana’s 1st district in Congress since replacing Bobby Jindal in 2008 https://www.scalise.house.gov/about. Before his time in Congress he served both in Louisiana’s House of Representatives from 1996 until 2008 and briefly in its State Senate https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/S001176. Scalise was born in New Orleans in 1965; he resides currently in Jefferson https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/9026/steve-scalise. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University.