Washington, D.C. – Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08) released the following statement:

“We refuse to vote for a spending bill that locks in savage cuts to the health care of the people and wages war against the middle class. Rather than work with us to extend ACA health insurance tax credits, protect Medicare and Medicaid, and keep hospitals from closing, Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans have chosen to use their control of the House, the Senate and the White House to shut down the government and continue their corruption of the government and their plunder of the economy for the richest Americans.

“For Maryland’s Eighth District, MAGA’s refusal to extend the ACA health insurance tax credits will be devastating for a lot of my constituents because it will lead to a more than160% increase in monthly premiums for lower-income Americans. With Maryland’s open enrollment period starting November 1, these tax credits must be extended as soon as possible to avoid mass confusion and the imminent loss of healthcare insurance for hundreds of thousands of Marylanders. And let’s not forget that between hospital closures, doctor shortages, and rising premiums, the American people are being systematically left behind by the Monstrous, Ugly Bill bankrupting America.

“I’m fighting hard to reopen our government, put federal workers back to work and keep the critical services we depend on running, but let’s not forget how we got here. MAGA controls the House, the Senate and the White House, and instead of using their political power to help middle-class Americans, they have all bowed down to Trump and his corrupt schemes. And they also want to avoid at all costs having to release the Epstein files now that a new Democratic Congresswoman from Arizona has given us a majority to force a discharge of the Epstein file release bill.

“Speaker Johnson and Leader Thune are following orders from President Trump who instructed them not to negotiate with Democrats. This hurts all Americans, including seniors, young people and the tens of thousands of federal workers who call Maryland’s beautiful eighth congressional district home. American democracy and the achievements of democracy, like Medicaid, are all under attack.

“Finally, Democrats also won’t support a spending bill that doesn’t put an end to President Trump’s dishonorable, duplicitous and dubious recissions. Once Congress passes federal funding, it’s the president’s job to spend it as directed—not distort, withhold or cancel it. Congressional appropriations acts are federal laws that deliver the critical services the American people need and cannot be unilaterally dissolved by the president or his party.

“Democrats remain ready to come to the table to bring this irresponsible and vicious MAGA shutdown to an end.”

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