WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8) and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (CA-33) for a press conference on Republicans’ continued refusal to end the GOP shutdown and health care crisis. Below are excerpts from her remarks:
On Republicans' Choice to Inflict Pain on Working Americans:
"Republicans have controlled Washington for 275 days, and we are 22 days into this shutdown.
"And through all the chaos, there’s been one constant. One theme at the heart of their budget, and their shutdown, and their health care crisis: They seek out and target the most selfless and the least privileged Americans. They always go after those who have already had to sacrifice.
"Americans working a second job to keep their family fed. Americans who have chosen to serve in uniform or as civil servants. Americans who are caring full-time for their loved ones. It’s working parents on Medicaid. It’s sick children who need home care. It’s veterans who rely on the Affordable Care Act. Those are the people that Republicans expect to get by with less.
"It’s never the billionaires. It’s never corporations. It's certainly never themselves.
"Because what does Donald Trump expect for himself? What do you see him talking about when you turn on the news? A luxury plane. A gold-plated office. A new ballroom. And now, a literal monument to himself.
"All as 1 million children are about to be kicked off Medicaid. Another million will see their family premiums double or even triple.
"And Republicans are complaining about the peace prize that Trump didn’t get. About camera angles and escalators. Acting like, somehow, they are the victims while they victimize the most innocent, vulnerable people — hardworking Americans.
"Republicans choose to go on vacation. That’s not an option for the American people. The bills come due no matter how hard they work. So our message to the Republicans remains the same: Come to work. Come to D.C. Sit down with us. Negotiate. End this health care crisis and end this shutdown."
On GOP Refusal to Negotiate on Health Care:
"We are in the 22nd day of a shutdown that is completely avoidable by coming to the table and talking about the American people.
"...Why are you talking about the length of a CR? Come to the table and negotiate with us. End this health care crisis. Help the American people.
"And I repeat this every week, but 60% of households are not making it! Unable to provide the basics.
"...How are people possibly supposed to be able to afford an increase of $2,000 in their monthly insurance premium?
"This is the issue we need to be talking about, and then we can work on making sure that we reopen government quickly.
"They are now trying to reimagine themselves as the champions of federal workers? As the champions of food programs and health care? When all they have done is take an axe to all of that since they came into office and deliberately — their word — inflict trauma on people who serve the public."
On Democrats' Fight for the American People:
"We have been trying to meet with them, talk to them, use the appropriations process to cut a fair deal.
"It's this theme that I've been talking about.
"Why do you go after the American people who are struggling to get by? Why is that the bargain? That we are going to pay for tax cuts for the very wealthiest of Americans and corporations with the hard-earned dollars of the American people who want — and are entitled to be able to afford — health insurance?
"What have we seen since their 'going to love and cherish Medicaid?' Dramatic cuts. $1 trillion. 15 million people at risk of losing health insurance. Half a trillion dollars out of Medicare. These cuts to the ACA, taking away the tax credits that keep premiums affordable for people.
"And all for what? So they can make permanent tax cuts for the very wealthiest and drive up the deficit at the same time?
"Telling hardworking Americans: not only is it going to be hard today, it's going to be hard for your grandchildren into the future to pay off an economy that we are rigging against you. That's the message to the American people.
"Democrats are saying by rejecting their their CR: Enough is enough. Enough is enough! We cannot go along with this extreme agenda."
On Republicans Going After Federal Workers:
"They have chosen this shutdown, and they continue to make it punitive to federal workers in a way that I've never seen any administration do.
"...They have been attacking federal workers. Their goal was to inflict trauma, whether it is firings [or] proposing that some people will not get the back pay that they are entitled to get under federal law in this shutdown. [They're] making things as difficult as possible.
"The way they have treated workers, whether they're federal workers or hardworking people in our community who are trying to provide for their families and are struggling to do that, it is just a 'let them eat cake' moment."
To view the complete press conference, click HERE. To view photos, click HERE.