REPUBLICAN SHUTDOWN DAY 16: Senator Murray Calls on Republicans to Quit Hiding from Their Constituents and Prevent Health Care Costs from Skyrocketing
KFF: Most Republicans and MAGA Supporters Say Congress Should Extend the Enhanced ACA Tax Credits Set to Expire Next Year
WATCH: Senator Murray’s full floor speech
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered remarks on the Senate floor on the sixteenth day of President Trump and Republicans’ shutdown.
Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:
“Thank you, M. President.
“While Republican leaders are continuing trying to ignore this health care crisis, and insisting on shutting down the government rather than even considering talking with us about how we prevent premiums from doubling across the country, I have been listening to folks back home—who are painfully aware health care premiums are about to skyrocket, and who are deeply concerned about what it is going to mean for their families and communities.
“So, last week, when the Republican Leader sent us home, yet again, instead of working with us to end this shut down and address the health care crisis, I made a visit to Sea Mar Community Health Centers’ Oak Harbor Clinic. Why? To hear from doctors and health care providers about what is just beyond the horizon if Republicans insist on inaction.
“I heard about how health care cuts Republicans passed are going to devastate our hospitals, devastate our clinics, and health centers.
“And I heard about how the massive premium hikes that are being announced right now—the ones Republicans are trying very hard to ignore—are going to push millions of people off their health plans.
“One person I spoke with serves on the board of an insurer on the Washington Health Benefit Exchange.
“He warned me, that if we do not save the ACA tax credits, they are anticipating so many customers will be priced out that the number of individuals they cover through the marketplace will drop 35 to 50 percent.
“You know, there is already a loud chorus of people speaking out concerned about this—in my state, and all across the country.
“I have spoken with small businesses owners who are going to see their premiums double, even triple, and some quadruple, and who are having to rethink whether they try to keep their small business doors open, and maybe go without coverage, or alternatively, just pack it in and try to find a job with an employer-sponsored plan.
“I’ve spoken with retirees who are not yet old enough for Medicare who have gotten notices that their monthly premiums are about to go through the roof. In some cases, we are talking about thousands of dollars a month.
“And here’s the thing: not only do I know there are more stories like this across the country, I also know there are going to be many more stories pouring in very shortly.
“Because the reality is, there are rate hikes in the mail right now going out to people who had no idea about the Republicans’ health care crisis and that it was going to hit them in the end.
“Rates are being set now. People are window shopping in many states and panicking from the sticker shock.
“In Idaho, open enrollment is now underway. It has started.
“That means, right now, families are seeing the cold hard numbers, and the sharp increase it will cost them to stay covered.
“And in two weeks, that same nightmare is coming to every state in the country.
“Who do Republicans think they are fooling when they try to just ignore this?
“What in the world are they talking about when they say deal with it ‘later?’
“These price hikes are about to get locked in. There is no later. We need to act now.
There was an earlier though. Perhaps we should talk about that for a minute.
“Because Democrats have been calling for action on this for months. And where were Republicans?
“Why wouldn’t Republicans sit down with us to talk health care in September?
“Why wouldn’t they talk health care in August?
“Why couldn’t they find a single minute to work with us on health care in July? Or June? Or even May?
“After all, they had plenty of time this summer to shovel tax breaks at billionaires, and put over $1 trillion in health care funding on the chopping block. They spent months on billionaires!
“But they can’t be bothered when it comes to health care. They can’t be bothered to help our working families.
“They would rather shut down the government than sit down and talk about preventing these premiums from doubling.
“But Democrats are going to talk about health care, whether Republicans want to or not.
“House Republicans have been hiding from this issue for a month.
“I’m not kidding: they have literally been on vacation for nearly a month now!
“Hiding from this problem won’t make it go away.
“Those rate hikes are in the mail; they are going out to our constituents.
“Window shopping is going live. Folks can go online in many states and see the exact cost of Republican inaction.
“And open enrollment is still marching ahead. It is underway in Idaho right now, and in a few weeks, it’s going to be across the nation.
“If you are a Republican who thinks that somehow families aren’t going to notice their premium doubling, somehow they won’t mind their health care costs jumping a couple hundred dollars a month—or, in some cases, by the way, a couple thousand a month—here’s some advice: stop taking your marching orders from billionaires like President Trump, and start listening to those people back home.
“Talk to the farmers, actually, a quarter of them are covered on the exchanges. Talk to small business owners, like I have, and employees, many of whom are covered through the exchanges.
“Because they are the ones who are going to feel the pain from this. And they know it, and they are begging Congress to act.
“And do you know what? Three-fourths of the people who rely on the ACA tax credits live in red states.
“And the ten states where folks who lose those tax credits will see the largest premium increases? They are all red states.
“So, shutdown or not, Republicans can only ignore this issue if they ignore their own constituents.
“So to Republican leaders, don’t hide from your constituents, don’t hide from the health care crisis you’re causing, quit hiding from the negotiating table.
“The clock is not just ticking—the alarm is going off. We need to act now, before these premium hikes become unavoidable.
“Democrats are the table. We have always been at the table. We are ready to work out a deal that reopens the government and addresses the health care crisis.”
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