Durbin Statement On Republican-Led Government Shutdown

Durbin Statement On Republican-Led Government Shutdown

Durbin remains committed to achieving a bipartisan compromise that funds the government and protects the health care of millions of hardworking Americans

WASHINGTON - Tonight, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans failed to secure a bipartisan deal to keep the government open past tonight's deadline. Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress.

"Tonight, President Trump and congressional Republicans made clear they would rather shut down the government than address their looming, self-inflicted health care crisis.

"Earlier this year, Senate and House Republicans jammed President Trump's so-called 'Big, Beautiful Bill' through Congress that cut nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid and will rip away health insurance from 10 million Americans to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy. Now, Republicans seem poised to allow out-of-pocket costs to skyrocket with their refusal to engage in negotiations to extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits that are set to expire at the end of the year-all to placate the President. If Republicans allow these tax credits to expire, tens of millions of Americans will see their premiums go up and four million more will lose coverage altogether.

"Republicans are fine with ballooning the national debt to make room for tax cuts for the rich but draw the line at extending health care to millions of middle-income families.

"Democrats remain ready, as we have been for months, to come to the table to broker a sensible deal that addresses the Republican health care crisis and ensures the essential functions of government remain running on behalf of the American people, but Republicans have been unwilling to negotiate."

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