Senator Murray Takes to Floor to Lay Out How Republicans Are Forcing a Shutdown, Refusing to Prevent Americans’ Health Care Costs from Exploding

Murray: "President Trump and Republicans in Congress would rather shut down the government than have serious negotiations to lower costs, save health care, and prevent a shutdown."

Murray: "Instead of talking with us about addressing health care from the start, Republicans decided to pass a partisan CR. And they decided they would do nothing about the fact that health care premiums are about to skyrocket. They decided they preferred a shutdown because they don't want to act in time to prevent families from paying dearly with exploding health care costs."

***ICYMI: New Kaiser Family Foundation analysis finds premiums on the ACA marketplaces will, on average, more than double next year if Republicans refuse to act***

***WATCH: Senator Murray's full floor speech, DOWNLOAD HERE***

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke on the Senate floor ahead of two floor votes on: Republicans' partisan continuing resolution and Democrats bill to fund the government, address the health care crisis, and protect Congress' power of the purse. More information on the Democratic bill is available HERE.

Senator Murray's remarks, as delivered, are below:

"M. President, Democrats do not want a shutdown. Democrats also do not want millions of American families to go bankrupt next year because their health care premiums more than double. And Democrats do not want people to get kicked off their health care, get sick, or even die. Democrats want to stop our rural hospitals from closing and laying off more staff.

"We have been clear about this for weeks and weeks and weeks. All along, Democrats have made clear we are ready to hammer out a solution to prevent a shutdown and save people's health care.

"But I'm afraid that at every step of the way, Republican Leadership has made clear they would rather shut down the government than make sure people can afford health care.

"Apparently working with Democrats to save American families money and keep the government open is too much for Republican Leadership. Because their plan so far has been to let health care premiums double, double, next year and insist Democrats swallow a bill that does nothing on health care.

"President Trump and Republicans in Congress would rather shut down the government than have serious negotiations to lower costs, save health care, and prevent a shutdown.

"Unfortunately, Republicans decided on the shutdown track weeks ago and have done nothing to steer away from the cliff. This is not hard to understand-Republican Leadership has not been subtle.

"If Republicans were serious about avoiding a shutdown, they would not have skipped town last week and Speaker Johnson wouldn't be refusing to return lawmakers until after the funding deadline. If Republicans were serious about avoiding a shutdown, they wouldn't be holding a vote on a bill that already failed-and that, I should say, actually got fewer votes than Democrats' bill since eight Republican Senators didn't even bother to show up to take that vote! If Republican Leadership was serious about avoiding a shutdown, they wouldn't be refusing to hold the vote until the last minute. If Republican Leadership was serious about avoiding a shutdown Trump wouldn't say 'don't bother' dealing with Democrats. He wouldn't shrug his shoulders and say, 'if it has to shut down, it'll shut down.' If Republican Leadership was serious about avoiding a shutdown they would not have waited until the last possible moment to hold a meeting that could have happened weeks ago, and they would have listened and negotiated at that meeting, instead of just saying 'my way or the highway.'

"And ask yourself this, if Donald Trump and Republican Leadership were serious about preventing a shutdown would Trump be tweeting out completely unserious AI videos riddled with lies, debunked conspiracies, and mariachi music? Would they be toying with the lives of public servants and threatening to fire more of them when they know the vital role that they all play in providing services to the American people?

"I mean come on? The President is thrilled to be shutting things down and sowing division-not working to solve the problem. He is showing every day how unserious he is in this moment! Or let's look at this another way, what would the Trump administration and Republicans be doing if they wanted a shut down?

"Well, if President Trump and Republicans wanted a shutdown they might be planning how to cause as much damage as possible, planning how they would hurt women and children who need vital nutrition assistance, the administration might be planning to use a shutdown as a pretext to conduct more of the same mass firings we've seen for months-and inflict more pain.

"Republicans might be openly talking about how Trump 'welcomes' a shutdown and how they will use it to advance their extreme agenda. Exactly like Russ Vought and his team at OMB are doing and have been doing. If President Trump wanted a shutdown he might be scheduling meetings with Democratic leaders, only to cancel them and then finally reschedule at the latest possible moment. Exactly as he just did. If Republican Leadership wanted a shutdown, they might mischaracterize what Democrats' position is, because they know that refusing to lower costs and protect people's health care-which is what they've been doing-is not popular. And of course, mischaracterizing Democrats' positions is exactly what Republican leaders have been doing.

"M. President, I swear the only way President Trump knows how to compose a sentence is: noun, verb, 'illegal immigrant,' and hey, why not throw in 'transgender' for good measure. That is how he aims to sow division and hatred. Are they serious?

"American citizens across the country are starting to get letters warning their premiums are set to double! Hospitals are already closing or laying off staff. And not for no reason in particular-this health care crisis is happening explicitly because of Republican policy decisions.

"Instead of talking with us about addressing health care from the start, Republicans decided to pass a partisan CR. And they decided they would do nothing about the fact that health care premiums are about to skyrocket. They decided they preferred a shutdown because they don't want to act in time to prevent families from paying dearly with exploding health care costs.

"Good luck explaining that to the American people.

"Good luck arguing: 'Sorry Republicans left town until the eleventh hour and shut down the government, but you see we wanted to make sure you couldn't afford health care.' Good luck saying that to your constituents, good luck saying: 'You don't understand, those radical Democrats demanded we stop your premium from more than doubling next year.'

"It's just not going to fly. The American people are a whole lot smarter than that.

"And despite all this, Republican Leadership is pretending they want to talk about health care later. The reality Republicans won't talk about is that higher premiums are being announced right now. Let's be clear about that. Because it underscores why addressing health care is so urgent. The reason we need to start this conversation right now is because people will receive letters in the mail with their new rates next month. In Idaho, open enrollment will begin October 15^th.

"And we already know, those rates are going to be much higher if Republicans insist on inaction. We already know millions of people are going to start losing their insurance, they'll be priced out if we don't get this dealt with soon.

"It's worth noting, according to Kaiser Family Foundation, a quarter, a quarter of our farmers and ranchers are enrolled through the health care marketplace and nearly one half of marketplace enrollees are small businesses owners, small business workers, or self-employed. Why do Republicans want to price farmers out of health care? Why don't they care about small businesses, and their workers?

"I've heard about one family in Washington state who learned that if Republicans get their way on this, their health care premium could jump from $278 a month-to as much as $1,800.

"And they are far from alone in staring down a huge, huge health care increase if Republicans refuse to act now. Millions of families will see their health care costs jump by thousands of dollars.

"That is why we have to act. That is what Democrats want to avoid, and we know we have to do this now.

"Still Republican Leadership has refused to start that conversation. Meanwhile, Democrats are at the table and we have ideas ready to go. Democrats put forward our own proposal for funding the government. Not, as Republicans are pretending, a 'take or leave it' demand-but a proposal. One with several key issues we want to discuss with Republicans.

"We want to talk about how we stop Republicans' Medicaid cuts before families get kicked off their health care and before Republican cuts shutter many of our rural hospitals. We want to talk about how we stop Russ Vought from stealing money for cancer research. And we want to talk about how we save the health care tax credits that tens of millions depend on before those higher premiums get locked in, before families decide they just can't afford their coverage-in short before it's too late.

"Because, if Republicans insist on sitting on their hands, they decide to wait until the last minute to finally work with us to save these credits, 1.5 million Americans will lose their health care.

"Again, that is if we do pass an extension at the last minute. If Republicans never get serious about this at all it is going to be even worse. But even delay has a real cost here-one that is paid for by our families. So, it's time for Republicans to get serious.

"Despite what Republicans are pretending, Democrats are not asking for the moon here, we are literally just insisting that Congress take action to address the looming health care crisis that they themselves have caused.

"It is shocking that Republican leaders are digging in so deep against doing this now. If nothing changes, that is an ominous sign.

"I hope, despite the completely partisan path Republicans are on right now, they will come to their senses and come to the table.

"Because I don't just want us to keep the government open with a deal brokered by both sides, I want us to stop the enormous price increase that's about to hit our families. And I want us to ultimately get full-year funding bills that help people, I want those to get signed into law.

"And I have to say right now, we have Russ Vought trying to hold government workers hostage. Right now, we have House Republicans refusing to come back to DC to do their jobs until next week. Right now, we have Senate Republicans replaying a failed vote.

"Look, if Republicans want to avoid a shutdown like Democrats want to avoid a shutdown, then stop spending so much time saying you will sit down with us on health care later and spend that time working with us right now.

"But if Republicans insist on writing a bill without any Democrats, they better pass it without Democrats too-because I am a no.

"Democrats will continue to work to keep government open, and to save your health care.

"I'm ready to keep the government open, as I said over the last several weeks, and I am ready and willing to stay at the table for as long as it takes. The question here remains, will Republican Leadership get serious and negotiate?"

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