Top Republican spotted ‘living it up’ on beach as shutdown drags on: report
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise was spotted vacationing in Alabama as the government shutdown continues, according to photos obtained by TMZ.
The Louisiana Republican, the second-highest ranking member of the House behind Speaker Mike Johnson, was seen near Orange Beach during the current congressional recess.
TMZ reported Friday that Scalise was photographed walking out of a local seafood market with a bag of food while accompanied by a two-person security detail and a driver.
The outlet described the MAGA lawmaker as “living it up on the Floribama shore” during what it characterized as a two-week break from Washington, D.C.
Scalise is among several members of Congress who have been spotted away from the Capitol during the shutdown, as lawmakers fled D.C. for the recess – without fully funding the government.
A spokesperson for Scalise declined to comment on his beach trip and instead blamed Democrats for the political standoff.
“While Democrats forced another record-breaking government shutdown, House Republicans voted four times to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security,” the spokesperson said., adding, “Despite Democrats’ refusal to fully fund the department because they want open borders at the expense of the American people, Republicans have found a way around them to fully fund DHS when Congress returns.”
Other lawmakers seen traveling during the shutdown include Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Rep. John James (R-MI), according to the report.