Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) downplayed any disunity between him and Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), saying on Sunday that they agree on the “overwhelming majority of issues.”
“Chuck and I agree on the overwhelming majority of issues moving forward, including our effort to oppose the largest potential Medicaid cut in American history. And we’re all going to have to come together,” he mentioned in an interview on MSNBC.
Jeffries mentioned he hasn’t spoken to Schumer for the reason that Senate Democrat angered a lot of his celebration by supporting a GOP-written stopgap funding measure to maintain the federal government open, despite the fact that a majority of the Democratic Get together opposed it.
Jeffries famous he was in Houston to take part in memorials for the late Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Texas), however added, “I do expect to have a conversation with him at some point later on today,” as he defended their divergent votes on the invoice.
“Look, Chuck and I disagreed as it relates to the approach and outcome relative to what we viewed as a reckless Republican spending bill and the effort to try to jam these cuts down the throats of the American people — cuts to health care, cuts to veterans’ benefits and cuts to nutritional assistance to children and families throughout America — while potentially handing a blank check to Donald Trump and Elon Musk to continue their extreme Project 2025 agenda,” Jeffries mentioned, earlier than stressing their settlement.
Schumer has defended his determination, arguing towards the partial authorities shutdown that may have resulted with out the persevering with decision.
“I believe it is my job to make the best choice for the country, to minimize the harms to the American people. Therefore, I will vote to keep the government open and not shut it down,” Schumer mentioned on the Senate flooring final week.