Reed: Trump is Marching U.S. Toward a Government Shutdown While Forcing Millions of Americans to Lose Health Care

WASHINGTON, DC -- Earlier this week President Donald Trump abruptly canceled talks with Democratic Congressional leaders on funding the federal government and averting a shutdown. With a potential shutdown looming after September 30, the Trump White House circulated a memo late Wednesday to federal agencies directing political appointees to plan to use the shutdown as an excuse for mass-firings.

Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed issued the following statement:

"Every Democrat voted to prevent millions of Americans from losing health care and to keep the government open. It's time for President Trump to accept reality and avoid yet another Trump-shutdown. But so far Trump is dragging his feet, cancelling meetings, refusing to negotiate, and now threatening to fire even more Americans who work for the federal government.

"Democrats have a plan for health care and the budget; Trump and the Republicans clearly don't or they'd be at the table right now rather than threatening people's livelihoods and their health care.

"In the days ahead, I expect Donald Trump to spend a lot of avoiding the truth and trying to blame everyone but himself. But that doesn't change the facts or fix the health care mess he created.

"Senate Republicans have already admitted that President Trump is the holdup and all they need to resolve this issue is a greenlight from the White House to negotiate a bipartisan solution. Instead, Donald Trump, who's tariffs are hurting consumers and farmers, is going to try to inflict pain on innocent, hardworking Americans.

"Time is of the essence. The President signed a law slashing nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid just as open enrollment season rapidly approaches. If President Trump prevents Congress from acting, 25 million Americans who get their insurance through ACA exchanges will see premiums spike by about 75 percent. And millions more with employer-sponsored coverage could face equal or even higher price increases. Democrats are fighting to give these Americans an urgent and much-needed lifeline. Instead of shutting the government down, President Trump should start working toward a solution."

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