LEADER JEFFRIES: "THE REPUBLICAN HEALTHCARE CRISIS GROWS WORSE BY THE DAY"
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference with Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, where he emphasized that while Republicans remain on vacation, Democrats will continue fighting to end the healthcare crisis and the reckless shutdown that Republicans have created.
LEADER JEFFRIES: This is day 22 of the Trump-Republican shutdown of the federal government, and Republicans have shown zero interest or capacity to reopen the government, enact a spending agreement that meets the needs of the American people or address the healthcare crisis that Republicans have created. And the healthcare crisis is growing in intensity and urgency all across the country. We now have visibility into 13 different states, including most recently Florida, Virginia, Maryland and Georgia. And all across those states, millions of Americans are going to experience dramatic increases in their healthcare premiums, copays and deductibles, as is the case with everyday Americans all across the country.
In Florida, by way of example, a 58-year-old in Panama City, Florida, single on the silver plan, currently receives ACA tax credits, pays for health insurance $140.80 a month. Because Republicans have decided to allow the Affordable Care Act tax credits to expire, that same individual who's currently paying $140.80 per month, their cost will go up to $1,526 per month. Republicans did that because of their refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. In Florida, a 46-year-old with three children in Santa Rosa we now know this family currently on the bronze plan—actually as a result of the tax credits that they receive—does not have to pay any additional amount to receive their health insurance. But if the Affordable Care Act tax credits are allowed to expire, that same family, 46-year-old with three children in Santa Rosa, Florida, will have to pay $2,360 per month. That is north of $25,000 per year. Unaffordable, impossible, unsustainable. And it will result in that family having to go without the ability to see a doctor when their children get sick.
The Republican healthcare crisis grows worse by the day. And yet, Republicans remain on vacation for the fourth consecutive week. Donald Trump is once again preparing to fly out of the country. The East Wing of the White House is being demolished so that Donald Trump can construct a ballroom where he will be celebrated like a king. And, at the same time, Trump is trying to rob taxpayers of $230 million to continue to line his pockets. And yet, Republicans have zero interest, none, in addressing the healthcare crisis that they've created, just devastating people all across the country.
Full press conference can be watched here.