'We need to get the lights turned back on': Speaker Johnson on shutdown

Government Shutdown & Political Stance - The government shutdown is attributed to the Democrats by some, while others see it as a result of political maneuvering [1][9][31] - A key point of contention is disagreement over spending levels and priorities, with accusations of political posturing and a lack of good faith negotiation [8][28][39] - The speaker emphasizes the need for bipartisan cooperation to resolve the shutdown, highlighting the slim majorities in both chambers and the Senate's 60-vote requirement [13][36] Healthcare & ACA Subsidies - Uncertainty surrounding Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies is a major concern, particularly regarding potential premium increases for families [3][6] - The speaker indicates a willingness to discuss ACA subsidies but stresses the importance of resolving the government shutdown first [4][5] - There are discussions around potential reforms to the ACA, focusing on eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse, with the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimating potential savings of $185 billion [15][16] Epstein Files Transparency - There is a commitment to full transparency regarding the Epstein files, with the House Oversight Committee actively working on releasing documents [41][42][45] - Over 34,000 documents have already been turned over, and the committee is working to redact the names of innocent victims, potentially numbering around 1,000 [42][43][44] - The speaker opposes a discharge petition, citing concerns about protecting the privacy of victims who do not want to be identified [40][44][45]