Part 4/9:
Presidential Powers and the Law
Scalise references a law from 1870 that grants the President more authority during a shutdown, allowing for the declaration of 'essential' and 'non-essential' government operations. He claims that Democrats are intentionally abusing this law—with Schumer refusing to vote to reopen—to give President Trump more power and, allegedly, to fund healthcare and benefits for illegal aliens.
He criticizes Schumer’s strategy as "malpractice", suggesting that Democrats are playing political games rooted in dissatisfaction with Trump's election victory and aiming to distract from other legislative issues.