Jeffries Faults Republicans for ‘Broken’ Healthcare System, Responds to Shutdown Queries #News br br br br House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries answered questions after Democrats in the Senate blocked Republicans' plan to reopen the government for a seventh time. Tensions remain high on Capitol Hill as the government shutdown continues for another day. Rep. Jeffries has said that Democratic lawmakers are prepared to negotiate, and he has even earned some backing from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. br br Rep. Jeffries took questions from reporters as the shutdown continued for another day. Tensions in Congress have led to heated confrontations as the Senate appears to be locked in a stalemate.