Speaker Johnson & Leader Thune Comment on Day 3 of Gov’t Shutdown

C-SPAN: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) held a news conference on the third day of a federal government shutdown, ahead of more votes in the Senate to reopen the government. When asked by a reporter about Democrats’ demands to extend Affordable Care Act health care subsidies, Speaker Johnson said those conversations with Democrats could happen after the government reopened. Moreover, Johnson claimed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) was not agreeing to end the shutdown because he was “terrified” of his “Marxist” base. At the time of this event, the House was not in session and would return the following week.