Congress scrambled this week to pass a stopgap bill to fund the government through February 18, narrowly avoiding a government shutdown ahead of the holidays.
While both sides of the aisle assured that members were in agreement that a shutdown was in nobody's best interest, a small group of right-wing Senators threatened to turn over the table.
Republican Senators Roger Marshall of Kansas, Ted Cruz of Texas, and others demanded a provision in the spending bill preventing President Joe Biden from implementing vaccine mandates, especially for businesses. Right-wing members of the House, such as prominent conspiracy theorist Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, expressed support for the position as well.
When asked whether she'd keep the House in session through the weekend to guarantee passage of the stopgap bill, a visibly frustrated House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California had some choice words for the members holding up the legislation.
Watch below.
Pelosi: This is so silly that we have people that are anti-vaccination saying they’re going to shut down government over that and you’re asking me what’s our message pic.twitter.com/oU9lFUoBSj
— Acyn (@Acyn) December 2, 2021
Pelosi said:
"How do they explain to the public that they're shutting down government because they don't want people to get vaccinated? Why don't you go ask them? This is so silly. This is so silly that we have people who are anti-science, anti-vaccination, saying they're going to shut down government over that. And you're asking me, what's our message?"
People shared her frustration.
TRUTH: https://t.co/epZ0I6iXfS
— Bambi Koslen (@koslen_bambi) December 2, 2021
Speaker Pelosi kept it 💯
pic.twitter.com/GYxanbkvhM
— Thee Chanteezy 💛♉️ (@iamchanteezy) December 2, 2021
.@SpeakerPelosi calls it out. https://t.co/SQ56tX3UiJ
— Reed Galen (@reedgalen) December 2, 2021
Speaker Pelosi is so done with anti-science idiots in government and I am so here for it pic.twitter.com/n2EzZSn7EH
— Henry Djoutsa (@D_jeneration) December 2, 2021
I am feeling this. Good for Pelosi. https://t.co/iI4wDhnUhV
— Magdi Semrau (@magi_jay) December 2, 2021
She had such a “ bitch please” energy in this - I felt a sisterhood with her. https://t.co/uakKtga01e
— Consequence is no coincidence (@BlueSteelDC) December 2, 2021
She wasn't the only one to slam the threats of a shutdown.
In the shutdown fight, Republicans took aim at Biden's vaccine policy - not because they thought it wasn't working, but because they didn't care whether it was working or not. #PostPolicyParty https://t.co/HpxURb8IgO
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen) December 3, 2021
This story is proof Republicans are Anti - Vax. Congress averts shutdown after vaccine mandate fight - The Hill https://t.co/XUL12NtVMX
— Andrea (@Labybug1964) December 3, 2021
Whew! Barely avoided another government shutdown by Republicans protesting vaccine mandates. Averted a disaster which would have been comparable to the shutdown in 2012 which was a temper tantrum against the ACA once again led by Ted Cruz. Unbelievable!
— Jim Barach for House of Delegates (@JimBarachHouse) December 3, 2021
Fortunately, their efforts failed for now, with the House and Senate passing legislation funding the government through mid-February. Biden is expected to sign it today.
