VIDEO: Luján on MSNBC — Trump’s Shutdown is Hurting Americans

Watch Senator Luján's full interview HERE.

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined MSNBC's Chris Jansing to discuss the current state of President Trump's shutdown and the urgent need for Congressional Republicans to reopen the government and protect Americans'health care.

On day eight of the Trump Shutdown, Senator Luján stressed that Democrats are working to reopen the government, while Congressional Republicans and President Trump continue to threaten jobs, drive up costs for working families, and refuse to negotiate to prevent skyrocketing health care premiums for Americans. He urged lawmakers to come together and prioritize the American people by reopening the government and protecting Americans' health care.

When asked about the current state of the shutdown, SenatorLuján said:

"House Republicans aren't even in Washington, D.C., to do their job, to do their work, to get things opened up.

"Let's get things opened up. We can work on this together. There's no reason to wait for the government to be opened up for everyone to work and do their job. So, I'm hopeful that overthe next few days, we'll see members come together to get this done. But there's no reason that a vote cannot be called in the next hour, tonight, tomorrow morning to get this done."

Senator Luján emphasized the growing recognition among Republicans that Congress must address health care costs:

"There are more and more Republicans now saying that they support doing something to prevent health insurance premiums from doubling, maybe tripling on most people, including Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is saying, hey, her kids are going to see a doubling of these premiums. Representative Malliotakis of New York, President Trump and even Speaker Johnson are now talking about health insurance."

When asked about President Trump's threats to withhold back pay from federal employees, Senator Luján was clear:

"The law is absolutely clear. Federal workers will receive their back pay … There's no confusion here. The only person trying to mince words right now is the president of the United States. And even House and Senate Republicans are speakingup against him.

"Look, make no mistake, it's only been ten months that Donald Trump has been president for a second time in the United States of America, but president Donald Trump and Elon Musk were busy firing federal employees, using federal employees as political pawns from day one.

"As a matter of fact, it was the Trump administration that chose to fire people at the National Nuclear Safety Administration who have responsibility to safeguard America's nuclear weapons. At the same time, Elon Musk and Donald Trump fired some epidemiologists from the United States Department of Agriculture who are responsible for keeping us safe when there's outbreaks.

"President Trump is the only one making choices right now on whether they're going to fire someone or not, whether the federal government is going to fund an initiative or not. These are the president's choices, and he's been doing it from the first day.

"By the way, don't forget President Trump's words years ago when he was asked, whose fault is it if there's a shutdown? President Trump, in his own words, said if there's a shutdown, it falls on the president of the United States."

Senator Luján issued a direct message to President Trump:

"[President Trump has said]: 'The President of the United States has a responsibility to bring people together to prevent a shutdown.' Mr. President, let's follow those words. Let's come together. Let's solve this.

"President Trump talked earlier this week about being good on health care. Well, now is the time to prove it. Show it to the American people. Let's prevent health insurance premiumsfrom doubling. Let's stop what would be a tax on the American people just trying to get care if they get sick"

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