House Democrat Brawls With Jake Tapper Over Shutdown: ‘Sir, Let Me Just Be Clear…’

CNN’s Jake Tapper grilled Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) on why she is not pushing for Democrats to vote to reopen the government if she and others are “so concerned” about food assistance programs being halted.

Stansbury joined Tapper on The Lead on Tuesday as dozens of states chose to sue President Donald Trump’s administration over a coming halt to the SNAP assistance program amid the government shutdown, which is now in its 28th day.

Things got tense between Tapper and Stansbury as the congresswoman clapped back at Tapper’s accusation that Democrats are choosing to keep the government closed. Democrats are currently at a standstill with a continuing resolution to fund the government, as they are asking for an extension on Affordable Care Act subsidies that will soon be expiring.

“This is a choice by the White House,” Stansbury declared.

“Congresswoman, this is also a choice by Senate Democrats to not vote to open the government,” Tapper responded.

“No, it’s not,” the congresswoman shot back.

“Yes, it is! I understand why they’re doing it. They’re doing it because they want Medicaid funds restored. They’re doing it because they want Obamacare premiums to be extended past the end of the year,” Tapper said.

“Sir, let me just be clear. The money for contingency plans is sitting there. That is why the states are suing the White House for withholding food,” Stansbury said.

Tapper noted that the budget Stansbury was referring to would equate to a couple weeks of SNAP funds.

“Yeah, well it may not be a big deal to you, but let me tell you that for the grandparents —” Stansbury told Tapper as he jumped in.

“It is a big deal to me!” he said.

Tapper told her he was offering a “short-term solution.”

“It doesn’t matter!” Stansbury said. “At the end of the day, people need to be able to feed their families, and Saturday is when those funds run out.”

“If you feel so strongly, Congresswoman, why not ask the Senate Democrats from New Mexico to vote to open the government?” Tapper asked.

Stansbury blasted Republicans, saying she can’t find any in the halls of Congress.

“Sir! I am here in the House of Representatives. It is shut down. I am fighting to get the government reopened,” she said. “I am fighting to get funding put back into SNAP that is already existent, and I am fighting for the American people. I am hear, but show me a single Republican that is here.”

Check out the exchange below:

MELANIE STANSBURY: They think that they can use the hunger of children to try to leverage Democrats rather than feeding 42 million Americans. And we’re not going to stand for it. We’re going to sue them. We’re going use the courts. We’re going to use Congress. And we are going to do everything we can at the community level to make sure that Americans can put food on the table this weekend. We’re not going to stand for this?

JAKE TAPPER: Should the Democratic senators from New Mexico, your home state, vote to open the government so that these SNAP funds are not at risk?

STANSBURY: Let me be clear. The administration is choosing to starve American children with money that they already have appropriated.

TAPPER: I’m not applauding their tactics.

STANSBURY: This is a choice by the White House.

TAPPER: Congresswoman, this is also a choice by Senate Democrats to not vote to open the government.

STANSBURY: No, it’s not.

TAPPER: Yes, it is! I understand why they’re doing it. They’re doing it because they want Medicaid funds restored. They’re doing it because they want Obamacare premiums to be extended past the end of the year. I understand the reasoning.

STANSBURY: Sir, let me just be clear. The money for contingency plans is sitting there. That is why the states are suing the White House for withholding food.

TAPPER: Yes, two to three weeks worth of SNAP funds.

STANSBURY: Yeah, well it may not be a big deal to you, but let me tell you that for the grandparents —

TAPPER: It is a big deal to me!

STANSBURY: For the grandparents that are feeding their children, to not have money in those accounts —

TAPPER: My point is it’s a short-term solution.

STANSBURY: It doesn’t matter! At the end of the day, people need to be able to feed their families, and Saturday is when those funds run out.

TAPPER: If you feel so strongly, congresswoman, why not ask the Senate Democrats from New Mexico to vote to open the government so that the SNAP funds —

STANSBURY: Sir! I am here in the House of Representatives. It is shut down. I am fighting to get the government reopened. I am finding to get funding put back into SNAP that is already existent, and I am fighting for the American people. I am hear, but show me a single Republican that is here, not a single one is here to make sure that Americans are fed on Saturday. That is why I am there.

Watch above via CNN.

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