In an interview with Talk Business & Politics on Wednesday (Oct. 1), U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, said D.C. Democrats and their pitch to bargain with extending health insurance premium subsidies shouldn’t be part of the equation.
“The CR [continuing resolution] is not a policy vehicle. It’s a continuing resolution to keep the government funded. It is not about changing policy, implementing policy, wedging new policy initiatives in there, none of those things,” he said.
Crawford expects more Democrats to defect from their caucus next week and vote for the “clean” CR, which is just an extension of current funding levels.
“It’s really pretty simple. I think when Senator [Chuck] Schumer comes to the realization that he can’t win on this thing, and I think that’s probably going to come maybe as early as Friday. We’re already seeing some Senate Democrats that have come to the realization that it’s not in anybody’s interest to shut the government down,” said Crawford.
Democrat leaders have opposed the CR in an effort to renew an extension of expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits. They also argue that unlike previous CR discussions, Democrats in the U.S. House were not allowed to participate in negotiations. They also say the CR is not the usual “clean” CR and is part of the Trump administration’s “weaponization” of the budget process in which funds previously approved by Congress are not spent or are redirected to other purposes.
Crawford said the ACA premium enhancements shouldn’t be part of the current funding debate because Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Schumer, missed their chance to make them permanent when they were in power.
“He should have thought about that when he implemented that policy with no Republican votes back during COVID, they put the sunset on them. They, the Democrats, own that policy and any mistakes associated with it can be attributed to them,” said Crawford. “So that was his decision along with [Former Speaker Nancy] Pelosi to put that premium subsidy in place and to let it lapse.
“If it was that important, why did they put a sunset on it? Because they knew it was supposed to be temporary, because it was supposed to be COVID related, and now they’re coming in after the fact and trying to make that an issue – that dog won’t hunt. Sorry. I mean that that’s not even a legitimate consideration in the context of a continuing resolution, one that they have already voted for 13 times,” he added.
Crawford’s interview also touches on expectations for farmer relief, a bill he’s co-sponsoring to reduce truck driver age limits, and Trump’s recent rhetoric blaming left-wing extremists for the nation’s political violence.
“Do we have right wing extremists? I’m sure we do, but we also have a lot of left wing extremists. Go ask Erica Kirk how she feels about that,” said Crawford.
You can listen to Cong. Crawford’s full interview at this link[1].
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References
- ^ Cong. Crawford’s full interview at this link (tbpshow.libsyn.com)