Senator Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) has commended Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) for her commitment to funding healthcare for her constituents, suggesting she outshines some Democrats in messaging during the government shutdown.
“She’s not better than me, but she’s certainly outperforming many Democrats,” Gallego remarked during a CNN segment on Thursday.
Senate Democrats are standing firm in their demands to broaden Affordable Care Act subsidies in a temporary funding proposal. Senators departed Washington on Thursday after a straightforward continuing resolution passed by the House failed for the seventh time. This was largely due to Republicans not securing enough Democratic votes to reach the 60 required to reopen the government.
The Republican proposal seeks to maintain governmental funding at previous levels until November 21.
“The issue is that starting on November 1, prices will rise,” Gallego explained Thursday, mentioning health insurance premiums. “Americans will have to make tough choices regarding their insurance.”
“They intentionally delayed that date to force members into making difficult decisions instead of negotiating before November 1,” he added.
Gallego continued, “By deliberately choosing that date for November 21 and then saying they won’t return, they are essentially relinquishing their bargaining power, hindering their fight for affordable healthcare for Americans.”
Greene has repeatedly called for her party to prevent the expiration of ACA subsidies, voicing concerns about healthcare costs for her children as premiums escalate.
“I’m truly appalled that my health insurance premiums will double when the tax credits lapse this year,” she expressed in a post earlier this week.
“However, I have to disagree with you on this because when the tax credit ends this year, my own adult child’s premium will double, along with those for countless families and hardworking individuals in my district,” she added.
Greene’s public criticism didn’t sit well with Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who indicated he was not aware of the committee’s internal discussions regarding the matter.
“Congressman Greene isn’t part of any committee that manages these specific issues, and she probably isn’t fully informed,” Johnson told reporters on Capitol Hill.
Nonetheless, Greene maintained that all Republicans should be kept informed about future plans.
“A competent Speaker of the House would foster consensus in discussions, rather than work out strategies secretly in committees,” she remarked to CNN on Wednesday, urging Speaker Johnson to reconvene the House to vote on the bill.
Gallego seemed to resonate with this sentiment.
“This is a shortcoming for Mr. Thune and Mr. Johnson, not simply because they’re absent, but because they didn’t even raise it with their members,” he commented to Collins. “They failed to initiate talks to resolve the situation.”
He added, “Johnson sent his team home, not to exert pressure on us but to avoid pushback from his own members. He gained very little and may lose the chairmanship next year. His members are now in a position they can’t easily navigate out of.”
