LEADER JEFFRIES ON THE TODAY SHOW: "THE WHITE HOUSE AND REPUBLICAN LEADERS HAVE GONE RADIO SILENT"
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on NBC's The Today Show, making clear that while House Republicans have canceled votes and are nowhere to be found, Democrats are ready to negotiate a bipartisan spending agreement that meets the needs of the American people and protects their healthcare.
CRAIG MELVIN: With us now, here in the studio, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Leader Jeffries, good morning to you, sir.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Good morning.
CRAIG MELVIN: First week where a lot of folks aren't going to be getting their paychecks. We've got hundreds of thousands of livelihoods hanging in the balance. Democrats could end this, as you know, and you could just actually extend funding levels for seven weeks. Kick the can down the road. Why not?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, it's very unfortunate that Donald Trump and Republicans have decided to shut the government down because they're unwilling to provide healthcare to working-class Americans. We've said from the very beginning we'll sit down with anyone, anytime, anyplace in order to reopen the government, find a bipartisan agreement that actually meets the needs of the American people. We need a spending agreement that improves the quality of life of everyday Americans, that doesn't hurt everyday Americans. And we also need to address this Republican healthcare crisis that is hurting people all across the country—rural America, working-class America, urban America, small-town America, the heartland of America and Black and brown communities all throughout America.
CRAIG MELVIN: So Mr. Leader, again, longest shutdown was during the first Trump presidency. This is what you said at the time about that particular shutdown. Here it is.
RECORDING OF LEADER JEFFRIES: We are willing to take what Senate Republicans have done in order to reopen the government so that we no longer are holding 800,000 federal workers hostage.
CRAIG MELVIN: That's exactly what you're doing right now. Hundreds of thousands of workers are being held hostage. What's changed from then to now?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, actually, Donald Trump is the President. Republicans control the House, the Senate and the presidency. They can reopen the government if they chose to. The reality is—
CRAIG MELVIN: Well they would have to change the rules to be fair.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well that's correct, which they've done multiple times, including using that particular type of process to pass their One Big Ugly Bill, which started this whole Republican healthcare crisis. Largest cut to Medicaid in American history. Ripped food out of the mouths of children. And they did it so they could reward their billionaire donors with massive tax breaks. All we're saying is we need a spending agreement that actually meets the needs of the American people, working-class Americans, middle-class American and everyday Americans, as opposed to what they've done throughout this year which is to reward their billionaire donors.
CRAIG MELVIN: Again, the majority of folks certainly don't want their healthcare premiums to go up. And I think a lot of folks are watching this and they're wondering, why fight this battle now? Why not reopen the government and still have these conversations and negotiate over the next few months?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah, it's a really good question, but the time is now to address this healthcare crisis—
CRAIG MELVIN: But why now?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, absolutely. The enrollment period opens on November 1st. Notices have already started to go out indicating that premiums, co-pays and deductibles for tens of millions of Americans all across the country are going to dramatically increase. You know, for example, a couple that makes $88,000 a year currently, which receives the Affordable Care Act tax credits, pays insurance of about $8,000 per year. That will triple to $24,000 a year. Right now. That's what people are facing right now, which is why we need to address it.
CRAIG MELVIN: President Trump did say yesterday that he wants to, quote, 'fix the ACA subsidies.' Is that an opening?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well he also mentioned that in the White House meeting that we had last Monday. Unfortunately, the White House and Republican leaders have gone radio silent ever since then.
CRAIG MELVIN: So you guys haven't even talked since last Monday?
LEADER JEFFRIES: We have not talked, but they have my number. We're willing to sit down. We want to meet—
CRAIG MELVIN: But do you recognize how ridiculous it sounds that the Leader of the Democratic party—
LEADER JEFFRIES: That's correct—
CRAIG MELVIN: The President of the United States. But no one's even talking about reopening the government and people won't get paychecks this week.
LEADER JEFFRIES: It makes no sense, which is why we're gonna be in Washington all week. Unfortunately, Republicans have actually canceled votes because they want to keep the government shut down.
CRAIG MELVIN: All right, Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Mr. Leader, thank you so much.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Thank you.
Full interview can be watched here.