House Democrats are relishing and taking advantage of every opportunity to call returning Republicans out for hiding from their responsibilities to the American People during the government shutdown the last seven weeks while still getting paid when their staffers and many other federal workers were not and forced to go to food banks to get items to eat.
Arizona Representative Yassamin Ansari provided one instance in calling out Republican vacationing on the public dime while others suffered at a meeting of the House Rules Committee yesterday, earning the verbal wrath of the chair Virginia Foxx. Please see the exchange below where Representative Ansari’s comments about Republicans taking an eight week vacation visibly get under Foxx’s skin.
Below is a transcript of most of the exchange:
Ansari: “Thank you, madam chair. Welcome back from your eight weeks of taxpayer fund education. It’s good to see you, and…”
Foxx: “I interrupt you please.I am sick and tired of hearing you all say we had an eight week vacation.”
Ansari: “That’s exactly what happened.”
Foxx: “I worked every day. I don’t know about you. I don’t want to hear another soul say that.”
Ansari: “That’s exactly what happened.”
Foxx: “You’re recognized.”
Ansari: ” I hope that you all enjoyed yourselves while American families looked at their letters from their health insurance companies terrified that their insurance premiums were going to double or triple while the House without a session for 53 days. That is unacceptable, Madam Chair.”
At the same hearing, Ansari relayed that she was introducing amendments calling for transparency with regard to the construction of Mr. Trump’s $350 million ballroom, saying:
“So I have Amendments at the desk first to guarantee that the American people are not forced to subsidize Donald Trump’s $350 million ballroom, a private palace where his billionaire donors will be rewarded with access and influence. These amendments also require complete transparency on which corporations and ultra wealthy individuals are financing this project and what they are receiving in return. Second, to ensure that this bill cannot take effect until ACA premium tax credits are renewed because, when if and when they expire, premiums will skyrocket, and people will lose health care, the corruption and heartlessness of these policies must end. I urge the committee to support these amendments in order for us to have a real debate on protecting American families and on restoring trust in government that Donald Trump is dismantling. I yield back.”
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