Resurfaced video shows an absolutely wild moment on the House floor that got largely missed amidst last December’s Christmas deadline over what Donald Trump would inherit as a new budget. In a clip from December 19th, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) presciently admonished her Democrat colleagues for threatening to shut down the government over the then-president elect’s proposed spending program.
Representative Luna began her remark by speaking about how Donald Trump essentially deserved the budget he asked for because he was “the only president in my lifetime who has fulfilled all of his campaign promises to the American people.” She inferred he would make use of the admittedly deficit-adding spending much better than anyone else.
However, she was interrupted almost immediately by Democrats sitting in the chamber for the debate. While only Luna’s mic captured any audio, thus making it impossible to decipher what exactly was being shouted at her, the fiery Florida Rep did not back down. “Excuse me, I’m not done talking! Give me the same respect we give you guys.” She stared them down for a brief second like a mother giving her kid “the look” before looking toward the podium of the House Chamber.
William McFarland, the Sergeant at Arms, immediately jumped in following the terse back and forth, declaring: “The House will come to order. My colleagues are reminded the gentlewoman has the floor. She has the right to be heard. The gentlewoman has the right to be heard, and the gentlewoman would be reminded to direct her comments to the chair. The gentlewoman from Florida is recognized.”
Luna continued her remarks after order was restored. She resumed with the same powerful claim that President Trump was “the only president in my lifetime who has fulfilled all of his campaign promises to the American people.” She then explained that point by saying “he has promised to cut hundreds of billion dollars in reconciliation. You want to talk about shutting down the government. The deal that was negotiated was largely rejected by the American people, which two speakers, Johnson’s credit, pulled it from the floor, which is why we are here today.”
She concluded by stressing the importance of the budget. Luna said, “The deal on the table will keep the government open for the American people, and if you guys so choose to shut it down, it will be on you, but not the Republican Party. We will not be going back to the table. This deal stands as it is, to let you go back home on Christmas and explain to your people why you shut down the government, because we won’t be doing it.”
Watch the clip here:
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Presciently, Luna said three months ago that the possible government shutdown would lie solely at the feet of the Democrats, and that is exactly what came to pass as Congress more recently debated its next continuing resolution bill. The battle to extend the federal government’s budget through September was just concluded this past week at time of writing and Trump expertly pinned shutdown threats on the opposition party.
However, at the last minute, the budget passed with seven Democrats crossing the aisle after Minority Leader Chuck Schumer essentially whipped and promised enough votes to support the bill. While his party has not reacted well, particularly the more radical elements within the crumbling coalition, it seems like Schumer was playing the long game and understood that he didn’t want Democrats to be the target of ire should a shutdown have occurred.
Featured image from embedded video