PHOENIX – Arizona U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego said he’s not sure Republicans can be trusted when it comes to the ongoing government shutdown negotiations.
Gallego and most of his Democratic colleagues in the Senate have been voting against a House-approved bill to reopen the government because they first want Republicans to extend tax credits that reduce the cost of Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance policies for about 24 million Americans.
Some Republicans have expressed a willingness to address the ACA subsidies, but only if Democrats first agree to end the shutdown.
During an interview with KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Monday, Gallego said “yes” when asked if Democrats don’t think Republicans will negotiate in good faith on the health insurance issue.
“It’s exactly the truth, to be honest,” the Arizona Democrat said.
Why is Sen. Ruben Gallego skeptical about GOP shutdown talks?
Gallego said he’s skeptical because Republicans haven’t always followed through on agreements since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.
“What we’ve seen so far this year, especially with this leadership and with this president, is that they have not negotiated in good faith,” he said. “When we have passed bills in the past, they’ve gone back and actually just changed the language, or the president has decided to still fire staff or still try to change the usage of the money that we’ve appropriated.”
Gallego added that GOP congressional leaders haven’t done anything to keep Trump in check.
“All their promises have just not been met at all this year, and we cannot take a chance when it comes to the health care of millions of Americans, hundreds of thousands of Arizonans,” he said.
Gallego also said looming deadlines make it imperative to address the ACA tax credits before 2026 rates lock in.
“It’s not something we can just go back and change starting January,” he said. “If they mess this up, … you’re messing up a lot of people’s personal pocketbook and health care for at a minimum a year.”
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