U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell Talks About the Government Shutdown

by Rep. Debbie Dingell

So yes, we have a government shutdown, and no one should want this. Democrats have been in Washington wanting to have bipartisan discussions, but Republicans don’t want to talk. I want to remind people that the President has only met with the Congressional Democratic leadership once since becoming President, and that was last week. And quite frankly, the memes the President has posted on social media demean Democratic leadership, vilify and reinforce stereotypes, and this is a time that we should be uniting, not dividing further. It fans the dangerous rhetoric in these times, especially in light of recent political violence. I find it all deeply disturbing.

I have had several meetings with faith-based groups, and all are concerned for their congregations, they worry about whether their places of worship are safe and how they can ensure people can worship without fear. We will be holding a meeting this week in Eastern Washtenaw with faith-based leaders, law enforcement, and public officials, with further meetings to come. All of this matters.

We live in complicated, uncertain times. I am trying to stay close, keep you informed, solve problems, and help people. Please stay close, call the office if you need help, and if you want a meeting or have an event, I will try to be there. For a couple of days, I am operating from my mother’s hospital room, but I have phones and three iPads and am working hard.

This week will begin the second week of the federal government shutdown. Democrats have been present the entire time, ready, able, and willing to sit down and negotiate a bipartisan agreement that would protect the health care of the American people. Republicans still have not come to the table to negotiate a commonsense agreement that lowers out-of-pocket costs and saves the affordable care that working families count on.   

Without ACA enhanced premium tax credits, millions of Americans will not be able to afford their health insurance. Take, for example, a 60-year-old couple in our district with a household income of $82,000. If we don’t extend enhanced ACA tax credits, their health insurance will go up by more than $11,000 per year. This is a significant blow to the millions of families across America who are already struggling with rising costs and working hard to make ends meet.

Why does this matter right now? The Affordable Care Act Exchange opens on November 1, but people are already receiving what their premiums will cost for next year. In Michigan, Blue Cross Blue Shield has filed for double-digit increases for all premiums – in fact, an over 20% increase. This is the reality here and now, and must be addressed. People are making decisions and are stressed. Can they afford to buy health insurance, and what are the trade-offs? Can they afford the rent and the premiums? Some people are simply going to make the decision that they cannot afford it, and pray they don’t get sick.

I also want to be clear and push back against Republican mistruths and misdirection. Here’s the truth: Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for health care tax credits or comprehensive Medicaid. Democrats have not proposed changing that. Existing law precludes undocumented immigrants from being covered by either Medicaid or Medicare. When responding, they try to justify it by saying that you can encounter undocumented people in hospital emergency rooms. Here is the truth on that … Hospitals are required to provide emergency care to whoever turns up there. And in many instances, that becomes uncompensated care for the hospitals.

Democrats are ready to get the job done, to reopen the government, to pass an enlightened spending agreement, and to address the Republican healthcare crisis. We are on duty in Washington. Republicans are at home, not in Washington, unwilling to come to the table for bipartisan discussions.

My office remains a resource for you. Please call with questions or write us and we will try to help. 

Click here for answers to some frequently asked questions.