After initially agreeing to debate House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Speaker Mike Johnson is saying he won’t debate Jeffries until the Republican government shutdown is over. But Johnson refuses to bring the House back into session to reopen the government so that he can continue to avoid fixing the looming health care crisis — and answering Americans’ questions in a debate — which will cause health care premiums to spike for 22 million Americans by an average of 114%. 

In response, DNC Rapid Response Director Kendall Witmer released the following statement: 

“Mike Johnson knows that Americans overwhelmingly blame Trump and Republicans for this government shutdown, and that’s why he’s avoiding a face-off with Leader Jeffries. If Johnson is so confident in his approach to funding the government, he would agree to an immediate debate — and he’s got the time since he and his Republican colleagues are refusing to show up for work. But Johnson knows that if he gets on the debate stage, he’ll be held to account for the Republican crusade to hike health care costs for millions of working families.”

It’s no wonder Johnson won’t debate with Jeffries until after the shutdown — Republicans are dramatically losing the shutdown fight. A new poll found that 8 in 10 Americans want the enhanced ACA tax credits to be extended, including most Republicans, and Americans blame Trump and Republicans for the shutdown by a 10-point margin. Nonetheless, Republicans are prioritizing their billionaire donors — spending more than 10 times the cost of enhanced ACA tax credits on a permanent tax cut for the ultrarich.