Our Republican Congressmen have been on a shameful, almost three week vacation while the federal government has been shut down. Many civil servants have been furloughed and others are working without pay. Trump has devised a scheme to pay our service members, but, while it is critical that they be paid, Trump’s plan is an illegal shell game.
Another shameful aspect of this is that the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, is refusing to seat the newly elected Congresswoman from Arizona, Adelita Grijalva, because she would be the final signature on the discharge petition that would force a vote on the House floor on releasing the Epstein files. Johnson is using the fact that the House is not in session as an excuse not to swear her in, but that is just a cover for his continuing obstruction to keep the public from seeing the extent of criminal activity documented in the Epstein files.
Republicans shut down the government because they refuse to fund subsidies for many lower income citizens enrolled in the Affordable Care Act. Premiums will jump up to 50% meaning that many will no longer be able to afford their health insurance. It is unconscionable to throw people off of health care coverage while giving billionaires tax cuts and bailouts to Argentinian.
Call Congressmen Rob Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) and John McGuire (202-225-4711 or 434-791-2596) everyday during this shutdown to remind them that the shutdown is particularly painful to the multitude of Virginians who work for the federal government. Tell them to get back to work to negotiate a solution that includes the Affordable Care Act subsidies and back pay for all employees. Emphasize that you blame Republicans for this mess and are upset that our Congressmen’s communications to us lie about the causes.
