Watch: GOP leaders give remarks as shutdown begins, casting blame on Dems

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) held a news conference Wednesday morning, the day after lawmakers failed to pass legislation to avert a government shutdown.

Republicans have largely blamed their Democratic colleagues for the lapse in funding, after Senate Democrats blocked the House-passed stopgap funding bill over health care concerns.

Thune on Tuesday evening expressed optimism that a deal could be reached after three Democrats voted in favor of the GOP’s continuing resolution, which would keep the lights on until Nov. 21.

“Democrats may have chosen to shut down the government tonight, but we can reopen it tomorrow,” the South Dakota Republican wrote online. “All it takes is five Democrats to join Republicans to pass the clean, nonpartisan funding bill that’s in front of us.”

Watch a replay of video coverage above.