Padilla Statement on Trump and Republican Shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) issued the following statement after President Trump and Senate Republicans refused to pass Democrats' continuing resolution that would have protected health care coverage for millions of Americans while averting a government shutdown:

"Republicans have control of Congress and the White House. But rather than negotiate with Democrats, Republicans have sent the House of Representatives home, canceled planned White House meetings until the eleventh hour, told Democrats to 'go f*** yourself,' and posted a racist AI video of Democratic leaders trying to avoid a shutdown.

"Health care costs are soaring for Americans across the country as a direct result of the Trump Administration's policies. Republicans funneled trillions of dollars into tax breaks for billionaires, but now they claim they can't find the money to make life a little more affordable for working families. Because of their cruelty, more than 20 million Americans - including 1.7 million Californians - could be priced out of their insurance plans ahead of open enrollment next month.

"The way out of a shutdown is for the President and Republican leaders to finally negotiate with Democrats in good faith to immediately reopen the government and protect Americans' health care."

Last week, Senator Padilla joined California health care leaders in Los Angeles to call on congressional Republicans to work with Democrats to protect health care coverage for nearly 1.7 million California residents and avoid a Republican-caused government shutdown. Californians and Americans across the country are facing the largest health insurance premium increases in 15 years and rising costs as a result of President Trump's chaotic tariffs and catastrophic economic agenda, but Republicans are refusing to extend essential Affordable Care Act tax credits before they expire at the end of the year. These credits helped a record 24 million Americans enroll in Affordable Care Act exchanges this year.

Senator Padilla has consistently fought against Trump and Republicans' budget reconciliation bill that makes reckless cuts to health care in order to hand out tax cuts to billionaires. In July, Padilla blasted Senate Republicans' passage of the bill that will kick 15 million Americans off their health care, shutter rural hospital across the country, gut critical programs, and explode the debt by over $3.5 trillion.

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