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Stephen King Slams Speaker Johnson Amidst Government Shutdown Standoff
Washington D.C. is currently embroiled in a protracted government shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history at 37 days, and it has drawn the ire of none other than legendary horror author Stephen King. The 78-year-old novelist took to social media to publicly criticize House Speaker Mike Johnson, labeling him “lazy” amidst the ongoing fiscal gridlock.
On Friday, November 7, King, a vocal Democrat, reshared a clip from Speaker Johnson’s X account where the 53-year-old discussed the shutdown on CNBC. In the clip, Johnson stated, “When we say the 1.5 trillion, that is the actual counteroffer that they put on paper and filed in the Senate.
It is still sitting over there as their counterproposal. 1.5 trillion in new spending… it’s just madness,” referring to Democratic demands.
King’s response was swift and scathing: “Open the government, you lazy thing! Air traffic controllers aren’t getting paid but you guys are for sitting on your a—-.”
The clip in question was originally posted by Johnson with his own commentary, asserting, “Let’s be clear: the Democrats’ $1.5 TRILLION counterproposal was pure insanity. Just to REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT they wanted to: – Hand $200 BILLION in health care to illegal aliens – Give $500 MILLION to their left-wing media allies – GUT the $50 BILLION rural hospital fund Republicans delivered for small-town America.”
Johnson concluded, “It’s a non-starter. Democrats need to drop these ridiculous demands and reopen the government.”
Meanwhile, attempts to break the impasse continue. On Friday, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer presented a proposal to Republicans, offering to reauthorize government funding in exchange for a one-year extension of tax credits designed to lower costs for Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plans.
“Democrats are ready to clear the way to quickly pass a government funding bill that includes healthcare affordability,” Schumer announced on the Senate floor. He further urged, “Leader Thune just needs to add a clean, one-year extension of the ACA tax credits to the CR so that we can immediately address rising healthcare costs.”
Schumer also suggested establishing “a bipartisan committee that will continue negotiations after the government reopens on reforms ahead of next year’s enrollment period to provide long-term certainty that healthcare costs will be more affordable.” He concluded by stating, “Now, the ball is in Republicans’ court.
We need Republicans to just say yes.”
However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune appeared unswayed by the offer. His spokesperson, Ryan Wrasse, reiterated the Republican stance, emphasizing that discussions regarding tax credits could only occur after the government has reopened.
Wrasse stated, “Extending the Covid bonuses is the negotiation – something that can only take place after the government reopens. Release the hostage.
End the pain.”