Dear john,
At midnight tonight, the federal government will run out of money.
Republicans are making false claims about what’s at stake and what this moment is about.
They control the House, Senate and White House and a shutdown is their doing. House Republicans aren’t even at the Capitol!
So here are the facts:
Republicans created a healthcare crisis with massive Medicaid cuts to fund tax breaks for millionaires, and the President has ignored the law by cutting congressionally funded programs and firing employees. We have another healthcare crisis: expiration of Obamacare subsidies.
If Republicans want help, we want to:
1. Help the 15 million Americans who’ll be kicked off healthcare because of their “One Big Beautiful Bill”
2. Prevent premiums from skyrocketing by extending Affordable Care Act subsidies
3. Force Trump to follow the law when it comes to funding
Americans are already dealing with increasing grocery costs and utility bills. Despite Trump’s promise to lower costs “on day one,” and usher in “a golden age,” the opposite is happening.
And this looming healthcare crisis - once it hits - will be catastrophic for Americans.
If Americans get slapped with higher healthcare premiums, which will happen if we don’t act now, they won’t be able to afford their care.
Even Republicans know these higher premiums would be devastating.
Expectant moms, cancer patients, young families, and more will be left to fend for themselves. You can learn how your community will be impacted by visiting this webpage. I shared the data for El Paso last week in an email.
Republicans are acting like passing their short-term Continuing Resolution is business as usual. What’s happening in America is ANYTHING but business as usual. Donald Trump ignores the law and congressionally approved funding.
Why we would we support a bill he’ll again ignore?
My Republican colleague Steve Womack said it best: "If you're a Democrat - even just like a mainstream Democrat - your predisposition might be to help negotiate with Republicans on a funding mechanism. Why would you do that if you know that whatever you negotiate is going to be subject to the knife pulled out by [White House Office of Management and Budget Director] Russ Vought?"
Instead of negotiating with us, Republicans have resorted to spewing outlandish lies about what Democrats want in the hopes that they'll distract you with culture wars.
No, we aren't fighting for Medicaid for undocumented immigrants or transgender surgeries.
The absent House Republicans may claim, “We’ve already passed our bill!"
That’s true, but they did so knowing it would fail in the Senate. You can't blame a shutdown on us when you present an unworkable "solution" and then skip town.
The clock is ticking. Democrats are in D.C. ready to negotiate and keep the government open. But that’s hard to do when House Republicans are on vacation.
If Republicans want our help, they know where to find us.
