13 Nov Local Democratic Leaders Decry Passage of Funding Bill

“This Republican spending bill is an assault on the health care, wallets, and wellbeing of the constituents I represent and the American people,” said Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, who represents most of Contra Costa and part of Alameda County. (Office of Mark DeSaulnier via Bay City News)

By Katy St. Clair
Bay City News

Multiple Democratic leaders around the Bay Area who voted against the federal government funding bill passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday released statements decrying the move.

Late Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, ending the nation’s longest government shutdown and leaving any extension of subsidies for the Affordable Care Act in jeopardy.

The House voted 222-209 to pass the short-term spending bill, with six Democrats joining with all but two Republicans in voting yes.

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, said the bill fails to stop ACA health care premiums from “skyrocketing” and will not undo “cruel” cuts to Medicaid. He also said it will harm agriculture.

“(The bill) once again leaves our farmers and ranchers behind by punting on a new Farm Bill that actually meets their needs,” Thompson said in a press release sent out by his office.

U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Walnut Creek, echoed Thompson.

“This Republican spending bill is an assault on the health care, wallets, and wellbeing of the constituents I represent and the American people,” DeSaulnier said in a statement. “My vote today was in support of and solidarity with these members of our community and millions more across the country whose livelihoods and health will suffer as a direct result of this cruel and reckless bill.”

U.S. Reps Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, Kevin Mullin, D-San Mateo, and Jimmy Panetta, D-Santa Cruz, similarly condemned the vote, with Huffman saying it was a “lousy deal” that will cost lives.

Mullin described the outcome as “disastrous” and said it will plunge the country into a deeper health care crisis.

“Republicans have already slashed billions of dollars from Medicaid. Now, they’re entirely refusing to extend the crucial Affordable Care Act tax credits that make health care more affordable for millions,” said Mullin in a statement released Wednesday night. “Americans across the country are already seeing their health care costs skyrocket as a result of Republicans’ fiscal irresponsibility, with many families seeing their premiums double or even triple. This cruel spending bill will raise costs even further, putting our most vulnerable communities at risk.”

Panetta said Republicans had “tucked” a section into the bill that “would allow Republican Senators to line their pockets with taxpayer funded dollars.” Panetta said at least eight Republican senators now have the opportunity to sue and receive “millions” in taxpayer-funded payouts over attempts to subpoena their phone records as part of the investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.

“Without any negotiations, agreements, or deals with the House of Representatives, with the provision for a select few Senators to line their own pockets with taxpayer funds over litigation on the investigations into the January 6 attack, and without any efforts to protect healthcare or reduce costs for working families, I oppose the (bill),” he said.

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