GOP Congressman Urges Speaker to Reconsider Shutdown Strategy

Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) publicly urged Speaker Mike Johnson to change his approach to the ongoing federal government shutdown during a CNN interview on Sunday. Kiley expressed concern over the decision to keep the House of Representatives closed, emphasizing the need for Congress to return to session to address pressing issues.

In an exchange with CNN’s Manu Raju, Kiley articulated that there are “a lot of reasons” for the House to reconvene. He highlighted that the House was expected to be in session for the past two weeks, which underscores the importance of addressing legislative business despite the current shutdown. “In reality, the fact that there’s a federal shutdown is all the more reason to be there,” he stated, advocating for immediate action to resolve the impasse.

Kiley’s remarks come as a notable departure from Speaker Johnson’s strategy of keeping the House closed and avoiding negotiations with Democratic lawmakers. Raju shared insights from the interview on social media, noting Kiley’s dissent regarding the current approach. “GOP Rep. Kevin Kiley breaks with the speaker’s strategy of keeping House closed and not negotiating with Ds,” Raju tweeted.

The congressman also addressed the situation regarding Representative Raúl Grijalva, asserting that a duly elected member from Arizona should be sworn in without delay. Kiley emphasized, “There’s a duly elected member of Congress from that district, and she should be sworn in. I don’t know why this is an issue.” His comments reflect broader frustrations among some Republican lawmakers who believe that the current strategy could hinder the legislative process.

As the shutdown continues, Kiley’s call for action highlights the differing views within the Republican Party regarding how to approach negotiations and governance during this critical period. The ongoing stalemate raises questions about the House’s ability to effectively address the needs of constituents while navigating party strategy.