(NewsNation) — House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., says the possibility of federal workers not receiving back pay will be a “moot point” if Democrats “do the sensible thing” and help end the government shutdown.
Johnson joined Tuesday’s “On Balance” to discuss the shutdown, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, and public perception with the government now in its seventh day of closure.
The speaker noted there has been “discussion” surrounding back pay of federal employees.
“I think the Democrats, if they’ll come in here and do the sensible thing tonight or tomorrow and reopen the government, all of this is a moot point. We’ll take care of the problem.
“But the decision point is on the Democrats, not Republicans. Look, it’s always been tradition that furloughed federal employees do get back pay, and I think that will still be the case.”
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Johnson criticized media coverage of the shutdown, suggesting some outlets repeated talking points of the Democratic Party.
“The facts have been obscured, of course, because the legacy and mainstream media are quite literally repeating the Democrats’ talking points,” he said.
The speaker also said that comparisons between Pritzker and the former Alabama Gov. George Wallace are “fair.”
“I do think that we have to enforce federal law, and we have to do it by abiding by the law. The Republican Party is the rule of law party,” Johnson said.
“Remember what all this is about. They’re objecting to restoring law and order and safety on the streets of their cities and in their states, and that’s a real problem.”
