Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) drew the ire of Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) on Tuesday night by welcoming Foxx back from a “taxpayer-funded vacation.”
The House is finally in session this week after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) adjourned the chamber in September before the government shutdown, which began on Oct. 1 after the Senate failed to agree on legislation to fund the government. This week, eight Senate Democrats crossed the aisle to vote to advance the Republican spending bill. Though the GOP controls the chamber 53-47, 60 votes are needed to overcome a procedural hurdle. The eight Democrats gave the bill the 60 votes it needed, as one Republican voted against the legislation. Democrats unsuccessfully sought to secure an extension of healthcare premium subsidies for 24 million Obamacare recipients, most of whom will see their costs double, on average.
The Senate bill was taken up by the House Rules Committee on Tuesday, where Foxx recognized Ansari to give remarks, which prompted this exchange:
ANSARI: Thank you, Madam Chair. Welcome back from your eight weeks of taxpayer-funded vacation. It’s good to see you, and I hope–
FOXX: I’m gonna interrupt you. I’m gonna interrupt you, please. I am sick and tired of hearing you all say we had an eight-week vacation.
ANSARI: That’s exactly what happened.
FOXX: I worked every day. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to hear another soul say that!
ANSARI: I worked every single day, and that’s exactly what happened with Speaker Mike Johnson.
FOXX: You’re recognized.
ANSARI: I hope that you all enjoyed yourselves while American families looked at their letters from their health insurance companies, terrified that their insurance premiums were going to double or triple while the House was out of session for 53 days. That is unacceptable.
Earlier in the hearing, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) unloaded on Republicans, sarcastically demanding to know, “Where the hell have you been?”
“We’ve been looking everywhere for you guys,” he said. “Seriously, we were worried. We actually started handing out missing person posters. Nobody has seen you for eight weeks. But hey, I’m glad that you’re ok. I’m glad you survived your nice two-month paid vacation while Democrats stayed in Washington to try to end this shutdown.”
Watch above via C-SPAN.
