House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) appeared on CNBC’s Squawk Box to discuss the ongoing government shutdown and negotiations between Republicans and Democrats. During the interview, Arrington criticized Democratic leaders for their approach to resolving the shutdown.
“Well, I think the Democrats have been operating as if the people’s pain is their political gain, but I don’t think they know what pain is yet. November 1st will be a big test. I hope we don’t have to test it, but that’s when 42 million people who depend on SNAP for their nutritional assistance and to feed their families will be jeopardized. You already have seniors and veterans and vulnerable people, mothers with their children who receive critical healthcare and nutritional assistance through WIC, troops and their families, and the list goes on. So I hope that we will see Democrats in the Senate break.
“I believe we will. They’re already having calls for passing the clean CR from key constituencies like the unionized federal workforce. And so I’m hopeful that will happen, because I think it’s in the best interest of the American people.
“We can negotiate consensus, bipartisan policy in the final funding bill. That’s what we do all the time. That’s regular order. That’s the normal course of business. And it’s what Democrats like Chuck Schumer have done year in and year out for 44 years. I hope they come to their senses.”
Arrington addressed Democratic demands regarding federal spending: “I think if you give in to these unreasonable demands—remember, they’re asking for twice the amount of the discretionary budget by spending an additional $1.5 trillion—you know the list of things: funding healthcare for illegals, going back to welfare without work, and expanding these failed COVID subsidies not just for people on Obamacare but for people making hundreds of thousands of dollars. Listen, we will be in this position year in and year out if we give away some bad policy that’s going to hurt the country or cause us to spend more money and put increased pressure on prices.”
He also commented on Republican priorities following recent elections: “I think you hit it on the head, though. This is about stopping the momentum of Trump. It’s about political interests, right? It’s about finding or shifting the political momentum and finding a wedge issue. The problem is, it’s not a wedge issue. It’s another 80–20 issue that they’re on the wrong side of. And that’s extending of subsidies to wealthy people in a fraud-ridden COVID-era subsidy that Democrats couldn’t even get made permanent when they controlled all the levers of power in this town—not to mention funding illegals, et cetera, et cetera.”
Arrington praised Speaker Mike Johnson’s leadership during budget talks: “Well, let me be clear. There was plenty of pressure on our new Speaker Mike Johnson to shut down over border chaos…and he didn’t do it because he’s a leader who’s putting his country’s interests first…We’re going to trust [the American people’s] good judgment.” He added that Republicans now control both chambers of Congress as well as the White House following recent elections.
The government shutdown has led to concerns over potential impacts on programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) which serves millions nationwide.
