Speaker Mike Johnson speaks at a press conference Wednesday. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images A Johnson-led moment of silence on the House floor gave way to a shouting match between Republicans and Democrats. - Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) rose soon after to ask for the House to say a prayer for Kirk, according to multiple lawmakers who were on the floor.
- Democrats then shouted "what about the kids in Colorado," referring to a school shooting that also occurred today. Boebert responded that she was about to reference that tragedy before she was interrupted.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), who worked as Kirk's director of Hispanic engagement at Turning Point USA, then stood up and yelled at Democrats: "You caused this!" - Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.), a leader of the gun violence prevention task force, shouted: "Pass some gun laws!"
Between the lines: One source of Democrats' frustration was a belief that granting Boebert's request would have been a departure from standard House procedure. - House Administration Committee ranking member Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) told us that saying a prayer on the House floor in response to a tragedy is something "we don't even do for fallen members."
- "You have a system that you follow for everybody ... and when you violate it and create exceptions, it then leads to this uneasiness and I think that's kind of what happened in the moment," Morelle said.
The other side: Luna said Johnson should allow a prayer for Kirk despite Democrats' objections. - "The fact that Democrats were not allowing the speaker to do a moment of prayer is really disgusting," she said.
- "We should have been allowed to pray for Charlie. I would encourage the speaker to go back tomorrow and let us pray on the floor for Charlie Kirk's family."
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