Hakeem Jeffries Challenges Mike Johnson to a Debate

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Newsweek

Published Apr 08, 2025 at 4:21 PM EDT | Updated Apr 08, 2025 at 5:46 PM EDT


House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries challenged House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday to engage in a debate over the policy implications of Republican budget plans.

"Over the weekend, the Senate passed a Budget Resolution that would cut Medicaid, food assistance and veterans benefits in order to provide a $7 trillion tax break that would primarily benefit wealthy billionaires like Elon Musk," Jeffries, a Democrat, wrote in a letter first obtained by CNN that has been shared on social media.

Jeffries requested the debate, formally known as a colloquy, be held on Wednesday. "I look forward to a one-on-one debate with you on the House floor to fully and transparently explain and defend our differing budget values to the American people," Jeffries wrote. Newsweek reached out to representatives for Johnson and Jeffries for comment.

Why It Matters

Jeffries said that, based on a review by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the budget proposal would require cuts to "critical" healthcare programs. "Republican Members of Congress have repeatedly denied that painful cuts will be made," the New York representative said.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/mike-johnson-challenged-debate-hakeem-jeffries-2057129

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They do the "colloquys" more in the Senate than the House although they will sometimes do them during "Special Orders" speeches after the main session.

[Lovie777]

1. Johnson will quote Bible verses.........

Jeffries will counter with Bible verses and also remind the audience that Jesus Christ is a champion of humans right and mother nature.

[lark]

2. Moses is a typical repug coward.

He will refuse to bring the bill to the floor because he doesn't trust his sheeple to be sufficiently docile and fears his masters' anger so much~

[Bengus81]

3. The Senate passed the budget over the weekend? Hell,they don't work most weekdays

In a hurry to kill benefits that millions of Americans need just to please their Fuhrer who had a lousy week?

[BumRushDaShow]

4. They had a big "vote-a-rama" this past Friday night into early Saturday morning

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143434035

(the "vote-a-rama" being individual votes on each of a million Amendments to the draft bill they would eventually debate and then finally vote on)

But don't worry! After this week, they will be off the following 2 weeks (Apr 14 - Apr 25)!

[mitch96]

5. Johnson will refuse or make up some excuse b/c he KNOWS Jeffries is smarter and better mentally equipped to debate...nt

[republianmushroom]

6. Will not happen,

little Mikey knows he will be handed his ass and look stupid.

[Karasu]

7. No way Johnson accepts. They almost never do, and with good reason. They know they can't defend this shit.

And when they are arrogant enough to try, their stupidity becomes visible for all to see. They care far too much about their reputation to risk that. Image over principle.

Not that modern conservatives/fascists have any of those.