Davids Calls for Bipartisan Negotiations as GOP Cancels Votes Ahead of Funding Deadline

Today, Representative Sharice Davids and a group of colleagues urged Speaker Mike Johnson to immediately start negotiations on a government funding bill. Their call comes after Johnson and Republican leadership canceled scheduled House votes on September 29 and 30, leaving no voting days before the funding deadline. Davids stressed that this political maneuvering is driving the country toward a shutdown that would directly harm Kansas families, workers, and communities.

“Instead of canceling votes and continuing to push partisan agendas, it is time for members to reach across the aisle and be open to compromise,” wrote Davids and her colleagues. “The September 30 midnight deadline is quickly approaching, but there is still time to craft a bipartisan bill that keeps the government open, prevents health care costs from skyrocketing for millions of Americans, and upholds our constitutional duty.”

It is a fact that Donald Trump and Republican leaders need Democratic votes to pass any funding bill, but the president openly said, “Don’t even bother dealing with them.” Also, after agreeing on Monday to meet with Democratic leaders, President Trump canceled the meeting a day later. This dismissal of bipartisan negotiations has further complicated efforts to reach a compromise that benefits Kansans and keeps the government open.

Last week, Davids voted against a partisan funding bill negotiated only by Congressional Republicans and President Trump. As she did today, Davids called on Congressional leaders to put aside political games and negotiate a bipartisan deal “that actually helps hardworking folks at home.” 

Davids also urged Congressional leadership to include an extension of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTCs) in any government funding bill. In Kansas alone, more than 160,000 people relied on these tax credits last year to save an average of $700 annually on their health care. While these credits expire at the end of 2025, House Republican leaders did not include the extension in last week’s package.

Read the full letter here or below:

Speaker Johnson:

We write to raise serious concerns about the Majority’s decision to cancel votes with no plan to fund the government ahead of the shutdown deadline. This is irresponsible and sends a message to our constituents that Congress will not show up to work for them.

On Friday, it was announced that House GOP Leadership was canceling scheduled voting days on September 29 and 30, leaving the House with zero remaining voting days prior to the government funding deadline. This announcement came moments after a partisan funding package failed in the Senate, putting the government funding debate back at square one. We urge you to work with us to keep the government open, ensuring that soldiers and employees get their paychecks, our public lands stay open, and families can feed their children.

Under our Constitution, one of Congress’s most important duties is to fund our government to support critical programs, like health care, public safety, and education. After months of short-term funding bills, kicking the can down the road, and partisan bickering, there remains no viable plan to pass a bipartisan government funding bill. Folks back home know this simple rule – you don't go home until the job is done. When the going gets tough, the tough get to work. Members of Congress need to do the same.

Instead of canceling votes and continuing to push partisan agendas, it is time for members to reach across the aisle and be open to compromise. The September 30 midnight deadline is quickly approaching, but there is still time to craft a bipartisan bill that keeps the government open, prevents health care costs from skyrocketing for millions of Americans, and upholds our constitutional duty.

We stand ready to work with you, negotiate in good faith, and find a bipartisan path to avoid a government shutdown that will hurt all the communities we represent.