REPUBLICAN SHUTDOWN DAY 21: Senator Murray Slams Republicans for Ignoring Skyrocketing Health Care Costs on First Day of Washington State Window Shopping
NEW FROM AP: 6 in 10 Americans are “extremely” or “very” concerned about their health costs going up in the next year
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 twenty-first day of President Trump and Republicans’ shutdown and the first day that Washingtonians can window shop for health care coverage on the state’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, Washington Healthplanfinder.
Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:
[REPUBLICANS’ REFUSAL TO PREVENT PREMIUMS FROM EXPLODING]
“We are now on week four of Republicans insisting that they would rather keep the government shut down than talk about how we stop health care premiums from skyrocketing. And in a sign of how serious Republicans are taking all this, House Republicans are still not even here. They are still on a vacation that has now lasted over a month.
“Senate Republican leaders are still refusing to sit down with us and do anything other than hold the same failed vote on their partisan bill over, and over, and over.
“And President Trump is gloating and lying about having more power than ever. He is illegally mass firing people that do important work for the American people, he is illegally hacking away at ‘Democratic’ programs, and he is tweeting out more lies and truly obscene videos.
“Let’s be clear: President Trump does not have to fire people and slash funding. He didn’t do any of this during the last shutdown he caused. Instead, Trump is choosing to cause pain and chaos because he wants to use the American people as leverage.
“Meanwhile, he is doing nothing about the fact that millions of Americans—the majority in red states, by the way—are about to see their premiums double.
“Open enrollment starts next week. In fact, it already began in Idaho.
“And where are Republicans? They are on week four of sticking their heads in the sand. Again, House Republicans are not even here.
“But in a shock to no one, Republicans ignoring reality has done nothing to change it.
“And that became even more obvious today as health plan window shopping started in my home state of Washington, and it’s going on in many other states as well.
“Which means right now, today, families are logging on, looking for plans for 2026, and seeing the full cost of Republicans’ inaction.
“For millions of families, they are seeing for the first time that their premiums are going to double next year, because Republicans are refusing to act. And for many families? It will be even worse. Premiums will triple, or even quadruple!
“I have heard from seniors, not yet old enough for Medicare, who learned their premiums will jump by more than a thousand dollars a month.
“I have heard from many small business owners, trying to figure out if they are going to give up on their dream job, or risk going without health care.
“And the Republican response? Silence. The Republican solution? Just wait.
“To my colleagues: what are you talking about? Wait? Until what? Until premiums get locked in? Until people are officially priced out of coverage?
“The billionaires did not have to wait for their tax cuts. Republicans made sure to pass that last July. Why do working families have to wait for you to talk about health care? It is completely absurd to me that Republicans are trying to say they won’t talk about this during a shutdown, but ‘Trust us. Because later we may possibly, think about, or talk about something that is going to be way too late.’
“It is just not credible for Republican leaders to insist they won’t talk about health care until this shutdown ends.
“After all, they wouldn’t talk about it before the shutdown. And, as a matter of fact, I think they’ve talked about health care more during the shutdown than they had all year!
“They have been ignoring this issue. And now, their only offer to Democrats right now is to say we should ignore the issue too!
“No deal. I will not ignore my constituents. And to my Republican colleagues: I will not let you ignore yours either. So join us at the table, and let’s get serious about ending this shutdown, and stopping premiums from skyrocketing.
“I’ve already heard from families and small businesses in Washington state about how painful this is going to be, and I’ve also heard from my neighbors in Idaho, and Montana as well. Why is it so hard for Republican leaders to listen to these stories? Why is it so hard for them to listen to the voices of their constituents?
[TRUMP & REPUBLICANS’ DISGRACEFUL RESPONSE TO NO KINGS PROTESTS]
“We saw that same issue with the protests last weekend.
“The No Kings protests were possibly the most massive peaceful day of action in our nation’s history. From city to city, large and small, images poured in of massive crowds. A grassroots movement with hand-made signs, colorful outfits, and Americans of every stripe.
“Out in the crowds, you could see parents that were out to protest with kids on their shoulders, showing the next generation this is how we make our voices heard in this country: loudly, proudly, and peacefully. You could see seniors out marching, determined to stand up for the rights they have cherished for decades, and stop this country from becoming something they no longer recognize. And you could see young adults, getting together with their friends, getting involved, and exercising their birthright as Americans: to have a say in the future of this country.
“It was an inspiring celebration of how we advocate for change in this country. Americans from every walk of life, every stage of life, and every corner of our country, came together to speak with one voice, and send one message: ‘No Kings.’ That is about as fundamentally American as it gets.
“And yet, how did my colleagues across the aisle respond to these people, many of their own constituents?
“Republicans spent weeks slandering these peaceful protesters. They spent weeks saying this was a ‘Hate America’ rally. They actually said that, repeatedly, proudly, to the press.
“Do you think those kids hate America? Or those seniors, do you think they hate America? Do they think their constituents hate America? That’s disgraceful. Republicans who’ve spouted these lies should apologize.
“And let’s not forget President Trump’s response, because it deserves to live in shame for all of history.
“The President of the United States, responded to peaceful protesters across this country with a video of himself wearing a crown, driving a fighter jet, and bombing peaceful protestors with human waste. Are you kidding me? No one over there says anything about this? That is shameful. Speaker Johnson said he thinks that is Trump being an ‘effective communicator.’ Really?
“What on earth is effective about the president of the United States dropping waste on American families, and seniors, and our cities? It was a vulgar, ugly, and fundamentally unstable display. It was in many ways a perfect mirror reflection of the peaceful protests.
“Because President Trump’s response showing himself donning a crown, soaring above the common people, and dropping waste on American cities and peaceful protestors, that is as fundamentally un-American as it gets.
“So when are Republicans going to apologize for smearing peaceful protestors?
“When are they going to apologize for saying this weekend was a ‘Hate America’ rally?
“When are they going to apologize for all the rhetoric saying Democrats are terrorists?
“And while we are at it, when are they going to criticize Trump’s completely unhinged response? What is it going to take to tell President Trump he’s crossed a line? Millions of people can peacefully protest, and Republican leaders slander it for weeks as a ‘Hate America’ rally, but not a squeak of criticism for the President fantasizing about bombing people with feces.
“M. President, Republicans may be determined to cover their ears when it comes to families speaking out about the health care crisis. They may be determined to cover their eyes when it comes to Trump tweeting out unhinged, un-American AI slop.
“But Democrats are not going to let them cover up the truth. We are not going to let them ignore the health care crisis. We are going to continue to speak out, and lift up stories from families, in our states and theirs.
“And we are going to remain at the table, ready to work on real solutions to end this shutdown, and address this health care crisis.”
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