Jeffries Slams ‘Reckless’ Republican Budget Bill

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., sharply criticized Republicans’ budget reconciliation proposal Wednesday, calling it a “reckless” measure that Democrats are determined to defeat.

Speaking to reporters after House Democrats began debating the legislation, Jeffries argued that Republicans were struggling to advance their agenda despite holding the House majority.

“A few moments ago, yet again, another reckless Republican bill went down to defeat on the floor of the House of Representatives,” Jeffries said. “How are Democrats in the minority, but continue to control the floor as if we were in the majority?”

Jeffries pointed to what he described as recent Democratic policy victories, including legislation passed by House Democrats in January to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits. He said the measure helped protect health care coverage for more than 20 million Americans.

The New York Democrat also criticized the SAVE America Act, legislation that would require voters to present identification before casting a ballot. Jeffries said House Democrats would oppose measures they believe could hinder “free and fair elections.”

“House Democrats are committed to making sure that we have a free and fair election in November,” Jeffries said. “When that occurs, we’re confident that we’re gonna take back control of the United States House of Representatives.”

Jeffries also condemned the Republican-backed budget package for continuing to fund U.S. military operations against Iran.

The legislation, he said, would provide “$60 billion in additional taxpayer money for [President] Donald Trump’s reckless and costly war of choice in the Middle East.”

According to Jeffries, the conflict has left Iran in a stronger position than before military operations began, despite the United States having depleted more than a large part of Iran’s military, executive personnel, and the regime’s sources of income.

“The war in Iran has been a disaster for the American people,” he said.

Jeffries concluded by pledging that Democrats would oppose what he called the GOP’s “America last” budget resolution and instead push to restore funding for Medicaid and nutrition assistance programs.

He accused Republicans of forcing through “devastating cuts” to those programs in last year’s reconciliation package, which he referred to as the party’s “one big, ugly bill.”

House Republicans have defended the budget reconciliation measure as necessary to advance key spending and policy priorities, while Democrats have united in opposition to the proposal.