U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) and U.S. House of Representatives Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).Tom Williams | Michael A.
McCoy | ReutersTop House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries challenged Speaker Mike Johnson to a public debate the government shutdown, which entered its sixth day on Monday with no off-ramp in sight.But the Republican leader quickly brushed off Jeffries' request, accusing the New York lawmaker of making "desperate pleas for attention."In a letter to Johnson, Jeffries told the Louisiana Republican that he is game to debate on the House floor "any day this week in primetime, broadcast to the American people.""Given the urgency of the moment and the Republican refusal to negotiate a bipartisan agreement, a debate on the House Floor will vide the American people with the transparency they deserve," Jeffries wrote."It will also give you an opportunity to explain your my way or the highway apach to shutting the government down, when Democratic votes are needed to resolve the impasse that exists," he wrote.Read more CNBC coverage'There will start to be layoffs' if Trump decides shutdown talks have stalled, Hassett saysTreasury weighs minting $1 coin with Trump's face for U.S.
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'successfully separated' TikTok from China's ByteDanceEric Adams drops out of New York City mayoral racePresident Trump posts cartoon image depicting him firing Fed Chief PowellJohnson, at a news conference later Monday morning, accused Jeffries of issuing the debate challenge in desperation because of unfavorable polling on Democrats' shutdown messaging.But multiple recent polls show Americans are more ly to blame the shutdown on President Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans, who hold majorities in both chambers of Congress, than on Democrats.Johnson said lawmakers previously debated on the House floor before passing a Republican-posed stopgap funding measure, which has so far failed to pass in the Senate."I'm not going to let Hakeem try to pretend for these theatrics," Johnson said, adding, "We all know what he's trying to do."The House is out of session this week.The Senate is set to vote again on Republicans' stopgap, which would resume funding at current levels through Nov.
21, and Democrats' alternative, which includes additional health-care funding and other measures, after 5:30 p.m.
ET.Those same funding bills have already failed multiple times to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to overcome the Senate filibuster.
The attempts are also expected not to succeed.— CNBC's Erin Doherty contributed to this report.