WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., rejected a challenge from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., to debate on the House floor over which party is to blame for the government shutdown, calling it a “desperate plea for attention.”

Jeffries challenged Johnson to a one-on-one debate on the floor sometime this week to explain Republicans’ position on government funding as top GOP leaders say they won’t negotiate until Democrats pass the majority party’s spending resolution.

Jeffries called it an opportunity for Johnson to explain his “my way or the highway approach to shutting the government down” despite needing Democratic support in the Senate.

“The country needs immediate, bipartisan negotiations between the White House and congressional leadership in order to reac

See Full Page