WASHINGTON−As Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., criticized Democrats after the lower chamber approved spending legislation, Rep. Cori Bush, R-Mo., yelled out a reason her party is not voting with the Republican majority.
“Your bills are racist,” she said.
Bush was yelling over Scalise, who promised to pass the GOP agenda.
“We could stay here and watch you vote against every single other appropriations bill. We’re going to continue negotiations during the August recess to make sure we get back to funding the priorities of the nation,” he said, knocking Democrats for voting against an appropriations measure for the Department of Veterans Affairs, military construction and more.
Boos and calls for order erupted in the chamber.
As the chaos died down, Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., told her fellow lawmakers, “We hope that you will say no to extremism, to hatred, to bigotry, that is put into these appropriations bills, and say yes to solutions and fairness for the American people.”
Bush tweeted footage from the moment: “I said what I said.”
What we know:Mitch McConnell has fallen multiple times this year, uses wheelchair
Democrats have targeted multiple controversial provisions Republicans have added to the crucial spending bills, including measures that would restrict abortion access, diversity and inclusion policies, and other culture war battles.
USA TODAY has reached out to Scalise for comment.
The House passed the bill on Thursday largely along party lines, the first of 12 spending bills Congress must approve to avoid a government shutdown. Lawmakers are expected to leave for the so-called August recess as soon as Thursday night.
Even if the lower chamber is able to pass the slate of spending bills needed to keep the U.S. government running, Republican House leaders will have to compromise with leaders in the Senate, controlled by Democrats. The situation is setting up a clash in September, with many Republicans pushing for spending cuts and other measures that won’t have a chance in the upper chamber.
