Newhouse prioritizes tax cuts for billionaires over health care

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https://www.tri-cityherald.com/opinion/ ... 63958.html

Congressman Newhouse penned an op-ed last week where he called on me to, “open the government so we can debate the merits of extending [the Affordable Care Act] tax credits.” No one is working harder to reopen government than I am, but I think it’s important that people know Congressional Republicans weren’t particularly interested in “debating the merits of the tax credits” while government was open. TOP VIDEOS In fact, this summer, while Congressman Newhouse helped pass massive tax breaks for billionaires, he also delivered the largest CUTS to Medicaid in American history (this was despite the fact that there are more than 300,000 people who rely on Medicaid in his district). In the Senate, Republicans voted down amendments from Democrats to extend the ACA tax credits 3 times. What he also doesn’t tell you is that if Republicans wanted to extend the ACA tax credits on their own terms—they could have. Instead, they chose to cut more than $1 trillion from health care and pass tax giveaways for billionaires who don’t need the extra help. For all their griping about the Affordable Care Act—which made sure insurance companies can’t deny you coverage for a preexisting condition like cancer—Republicans have done exactly nothing to offer an alternative. The Congressman knows I have been in Washington, D.C., ready and willing to negotiate with Republicans in order to fund the government and prevent premiums from more than doubling for the more than 23,000 people who rely on the Affordable Care Act for coverage in his district. Maybe no one has informed Congressman Newhouse, but a 60 year old couple paying $602 per month for a plan on the exchange will have to pay $2,173 a MONTH without the ACA tax credits—a 261% increase for the health care coverage they already have! That’s who I am fighting for. It is stunning that my Republican colleagues refuse to recognize the plain reality that these massive health care cost increases will hurt families—but I refuse to stand idly by. We must save the ACA tax credits. Open enrollment begins on November 1 st . Window shopping has already begun in Washington state, so this is a “now” problem, not something for “later.” Meanwhile, Congressman Newhouse and his House colleagues have not even been in session and voting for going on five weeks now—it’s an absurd abdication of their responsibility to the American people. Is Congressman Newhouse trying to tell us there’s no legislation, no work, that House Republicans could be doing right now? Congressman Newhouse should also know it’s his Speaker, Mike Johnson, along with Senate Majority Leader John Thune who have refused to engage in negotiations and talks since they tried to force Democrats to vote for the partisan continuing resolution they drafted with zero input from Democratic Leadership. If Republicans want Democratic votes they need to at least talk to Democrats. Compromise is a very simple concept just about every American understands, but Congressional Republican Leadership is instead choosing to outright ignore Democrats. I am ready to reopen government and save the ACA tax credits, but Republican Leadership needs to get to the negotiating table. Boycotting negotiations is anti-democratic and childish. The Congressman should tell his Speaker to get in a room with Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer and talk it out, until they figure it out. Patty Murray, D-WA, is the senior senator from Washington state. She has served since 1993.