Mike Lawler

Why is it important to give those 25 million illegal immigrants a pathway to legal status?

What if they don't do any of that?

You know, doing an end run around the majority party, the speaker or the regular process is not the best way to make law.

Well, unfortunately, it looks like we are barreling towards a shutdown because Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer have changed their position entirely on keeping the government funded and passing clean CRs.

Whether it was Joe Biden or Donald Trump, I have voted for every single CR to keep the government open and funded while we negotiate a final appropriations package.

i think it is foolish uh... to shut down the government it is going to create chaos in the markets it will create chaos for the american people uh... specially those who rely on the social safety net uh... border security our military veterans benefits etcetera this is entirely unnecessary uh... and does nothing to actually further the work of the american people it is pure political posturing

uh... by my democratic colleagues because they are not in the majority uh... and from my vantage point that is not what you do i was against it when republicans wanted to shut down the government uh... and i'm against it here when democrats want to do it so we will see what happens uh... over these twelve hours uh... as you pointed out republicans past a clean c r through the house the bill is sitting in the senate at the desk it can easily be taken back up right now uh... and passed

And Chuck Schumer refuses to do that, despite his many pronouncements in years past about the need to pass clean CRs and not pound your fist and stomp your feet when you don't get your way.

Correct.

And I am one of several Republican members who have signed on to legislation to extend the ACA subsidies for a year.

Remember, these were put in place during covid to try and help those who were losing their jobs or unemployed because the government was forcing businesses to shut down.

We don't want people to be unduly hurt, obviously, by

healthcare premium increases, but to try and shut the government down while negotiating some of these issues is foolish.

We can easily keep the government funded through November 21st, finalize all appropriations for fiscal year 26, and come to an agreement on these ACA subsidies for the next year or two.

There's no reason to shut the government down in the middle of those negotiations.

Well, I think, again, this is a negotiation and a discussion to be had.

I think many Republicans would like to see an income limit on these subsidies.

Again, these were put in place during COVID.

I think there's a larger point, though, which is if the Affordable Care Act was supposed to reduce health care premiums, was supposed to increase access,

why is it not working as intended fifteen years later so much so that you need the subsidies to help people obviously there's a broader issue with health insurance uh... cost in this country uh... and i think that is something that republicans and democrats should work on together to focus on how we reduce overall cautious saw the president today with the announcement with respect to uh... pfizer uh... and certain prescription drugs and uh... you