Hakeem Jeffries Challenges Mike Johnson to a Debate [View all]

Source: Newsweek

Published Apr 08, 2025 at 4:21 PM EDT | Updated Apr 08, 2025 at 5:46 PM EDT


House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries challenged House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday to engage in a debate over the policy implications of Republican budget plans.

"Over the weekend, the Senate passed a Budget Resolution that would cut Medicaid, food assistance and veterans benefits in order to provide a $7 trillion tax break that would primarily benefit wealthy billionaires like Elon Musk," Jeffries, a Democrat, wrote in a letter first obtained by CNN that has been shared on social media.

Jeffries requested the debate, formally known as a colloquy, be held on Wednesday. "I look forward to a one-on-one debate with you on the House floor to fully and transparently explain and defend our differing budget values to the American people," Jeffries wrote. Newsweek reached out to representatives for Johnson and Jeffries for comment.

Why It Matters

Jeffries said that, based on a review by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the budget proposal would require cuts to "critical" healthcare programs. "Republican Members of Congress have repeatedly denied that painful cuts will be made," the New York representative said.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/mike-johnson-challenged-debate-hakeem-jeffries-2057129

---

They do the "colloquys" more in the Senate than the House although they will sometimes do them during "Special Orders" speeches after the main session.