By Dan Murphy
Eight days into a Federal Government shutdown, Westchester Congressman Mike Lawler confronted democratic House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries outside of his office in the Capitol Building and asked Jeffries if he would back the Bipartisan Premium Tax Credit Extension Act, a one-year extension of the Obamacare subsidies to help reopen the Government.
The exchange was great theater, caught on video and shared with millions online. Lawler wanted Jeffries and the democrats to sign onto a budget extender, which would keep the Government open while the two sides negotiate a budget that both sides can agree on (good luck with that!).
Now, Lawler was the instigator in this confrontation, so he was ready and prepared to have the heated dialogue with the Majority Leader. So, he had the edge of knowing what was coming, and he had several reporters and dozens of cell phones around him to record it.
My thoughts on the exchange were that it showed how Rep. Lawler is a rising star in the Republican Party. If he can get elected and reelected to his House seat in Westchester (not a given), he will quickly rise within the House leadership.
Lawler is quick on his feet and able to articulate precisely what he wants to say. He is one of the best voices in Washington in delivering the republican party’s message on the Federal budget. And with this exchange, he is now known across the country, famous with republicans, infamous with democrats.
An email blast came out from Lawler shortly after the exchange from Lawler’s reelection campaign. “Even with the Government shut down, look what Mike is doing. He is still in Washington, DC, for YOU! Working to get the Government open, while far-left lunatics like Hakeem Jeffries REFUSE even to negotiate! We aren’t asking for money, we are asking you to watch and share this!”
Yorktown native Dan Scavino, Assistant to the President & White House Deputy Chief of Staff, tweeted the video with the words Epic!.
What the exchange also shows is the deep division in this country between supporters of both parties, because the perception of that video on the democratic side of the aisle is exactly the opposite.
Beth Davidson, one of the 8 Democrats seeking to run against Lawler next year, tweeted, “Mike Lawler takes healthcare away from tens of thousands of people in #NY17 and cuts hospital funding by millions — all to go trick or treating around the Capitol pretending to be a serious elected official.” All that’s missing is his signature moonwalk.”
From Occupy Democrats, “House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries VERBALLY DISMEMBERS a MAGA congressman for ambushing him in the hallway: ‘Did your boss, Donald Trump, give you permission?”
And he was just getting warmed up. This is exactly the kind of humiliation that these Republican cowards deserve…
“Will you sign on right now?” Republican Congressman Mike Lawler asked Jeffries to try to get him to cave to Donald Trump to end the government shutdown.
Lawler wanted Jeffries to support a temporary extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies. Democrats are digging in for their constituents and are refusing to budge unless a longer extension is granted. They have the leverage and they’re putting it to use for the American people.
“Let me ask you a question,” shot back Jeffries. “Did you get permission from your boss? Did your boss Donald Trump give you permission?”
“He’s not my boss,” insisted an angry Lawler.
“Yes he is,” mocked Jeffries.
“No he’s not!” whined Lawler. “And by the way—”
“You’re making a show of this to make yourself relevant,” said Jeffries. “You’re embarrassing yourself right now. You’re chasing a crowd. You’re an embarrassment.”
“You have to sign on to the bill,” replied Lawler.
“Let me ask you a question. You voted for the ‘one big ugly bill,’ correct?” said Jeffries
“I voted for a tax cut bill that gave the largest tax cut to Americans in history. Are you against that?” said Lawler.
In reality, the so-called “big, beautiful bill” was one of the worst pieces of legislation in American history. It funneled massive amounts of wealth to the super-rich while slashing $1 trillion from Medicaid. It has proven extremely unpopular with the American people.
“You’re embarrassing yourself right now,” Jeffries said. “The largest cut to Medicaid in American history. You voted for that.”
Lawler continued to ramble, trying to push false MAGA talking points.
“Listen, you’re not going to talk to me and talk over me because you don’t want to hear what I have to say,” said Jeffries. “So why don’t you just keep your mouth shut? Because you showed up and so you voted for this ‘one big ugly bill, a permanent extension of massive tax breaks for your billionaire donors,” he added.
This is how it’s done. Democrats must stand their ground every single time, get under these Republicans’ skin with mockery, and then destroy them with cold, hard facts.” End of Occupy Dems post.
Republicans had the opposite view of the transcript of the exchange, “Jeffries loses it on Camera — Repeats ‘You’re Embarrassing Yourself’ Like It’s a Prayer.
What a trainwreck. Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries completely lost it during an exchange with Rep. Mike Lawler, and it’s one for the highlight reel.
It started off calm enough — then Jeffries went into insane asylum mode.
Jeffries: “Did your boss Donald Trump give you permission?”
Lawler: “He’s not my boss.”
Jeffries: “Yes he is.”
Lawler: “Why did you vote to shut the government down?”
Jeffries: “You’re embarrassing yourself right now.”
And then he just… kept saying it. Over and over. Like it was a nervous tic.
Lawler: “I voted for the largest tax cut in American history. The average New Yorker got a $4,000 tax cut.”
Jeffries: “You’re embarrassing yourself.”
Lawler: “You want to cut the standard deduction in half?”
Jeffries: “You’re embarrassing yourself.”
When Lawler hit him with facts, Jeffries hit back with attitude:
“Why don’t you just keep your mouth shut?”
“You showed up… you’re a complete and total embarrassment right now.”
Lawler didn’t blink:
“The only embarrassment here is you.”
By the end, Jeffries was flailing — accusing Lawler of “shilling for billionaires,” dodging questions about his party’s support for anti-Israel radicals, and sputtering through talking points like a malfunctioning teleprompter.
Mike Lawler brought receipts. Hakeem Jeffries brought… “you’re embarrassing yourself.”
The budget extender can pass the House without democratic votes if all republicans vote together. Lawler explained in the exchange that 4 House Dems have signed onto his bill, which would extend the OCA subsidies for one year.
The real challenge is in the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to close debate and put the bill up for a vote. A Republican bill to reopen the Government failed by a 55-45 vote, with Republican Rand Paul voting with the Democrats.
