WASHINGTON − House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, approached the six-hour mark in his speech railing against President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax, spending and policy bill just before 10 a.m. in Washington.
Following hours of debate, procedural voting and arm twisting by Republicans, Jeffries used his “magic minute” − a privilege of leadership that allows him to speak on the floor for an unlimited amount of time − to further waylay the House process.
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“I rise today in strong opposition to Donald Trump’s disgusting abomination…that guts Medicaid, rips food from the mouths of children, seniors and veterans, and rewards billionaires with massive tax breaks,” Jeffries said early in his address.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, has been shepherding the process of getting Trump’s flagship legislation across the finish line. Following a vote-before-the-vote around 3 a.m. Eastern Time, Johnson told reporters he expected final passage around 8 or 8:30 a.m.
Jeffries ongoing speech has put a dent in that timeline.
The minority leader condemned the bill’s cuts to Medicaid spending and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
“People will die,” Jeffries said. “I’m sad. I never thought that I’d be on the House floor saying this is a crime scene. And House Democrats want no part of it.”
Jeffries’ verbose delay tactic is a minority leader precedent: In 2021, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-California, set a record for the longest House floor speech, at 8 hours and 33 minutes, in opposition to former President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better bill.
Before that, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, held the title with an 8 hour and 7 minute speech.
Unlike the Senate, the House does not have an official filibuster to tank the opposing party’s legislation.
Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, set the upper chamber’s record back in April with a marathon 25-hour filibuster blasting the Trump administration.
Contributing: Sudiksha Kochi
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hakeem Jeffries delays House vote on Trump bill with speech
