Washington, D.C. – Today, Senate Republicans rejected Democrats’ proposal to fund the government and continue the tax credits millions of Americans rely on to afford health care. As the GOP refuses a bipartisan agreement that meets the needs of hard-working families, they are pushing the nation toward a government shutdown.
The GOP is hanging hard-working families out to dry to score political points and big payoffs for their wealthy friends. Republicans already bankrolled tax breaks for billionaires by ripping over $1 trillion from Americans who struggle to afford health care. If they succeed in taking away health insurance tax credits this fall, over 20 million Americans who buy insurance on their own will find themselves paying up to 90 percent more to stay covered. While Democrats fight for accessible and affordable health care, Republicans keep pushing a dirty bill that helps no one but their ultra-wealthy allies. Republicans are in full control of the government, so the choice is up to them: shut down the government or protect families from further harm.
“Donald Trump and Republicans refuse to fund the government unless they get to continue their deadly rampage against working families’ health care,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “They are hurling us towards a shutdown by rejecting Democrats’ commonsense proposal to keep the government running and shield working families from more financial pain. Democrats have made it clear: they won’t go along with a budget that twists the knife even deeper for everyday Americans.”
BACKGROUND