Republicans and Democrats continue blaming each other for the government shutdown even after the vote on a continuing resolution to fund the government until the end of January.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen said shutdowns usually happen when negotiations don't start until the last minute before a deadline. This time was different because the majority Republicans never wanted to talk, he said.
"And so it was a stalemate from the beginning. There was never any work across the aisle. There was never a give-and-take. And all the while, the Trump administration was doing the things to make it harder on working people," said Sorensen.
Meanwhile, Republican congressman Darin LaHood, who also represents Central Illinois, said it was the Democratic party that was “reckless and irresponsible.”
“While I'm glad a handful of Senate Democrats finally came to their senses and broke away from [Senate Minority Leader] Chuck Schumer, this shutdown was entirely avoidable and went on far too long. Over the last 42 days, our families have faced uncertainty, workers have gone unpaid, and our economy has been damaged all because Democrats wanted to use Americans' suffering as political leverage,” said LaHood.
Sorensen said Republicans were the party using "cruelty" for political gain by choosing to halt SNAP payments for food purchases by low-income people, even forcing courts to order the administration to send out the payments.
He said the lack of negotiations by the Republican majority for a long time before the continuing resolution does not leave him optimistic.
"And what I'm worried about now with this CR [continuing resolution] that we're going to go into next year and we're going to be in the same place in January. That we're not going to find ways, that the Republican Party is not going to invite us to the table to find out how we meet in the middle," said Sorensen.
The reopening of the government leaves open the question of whether to extend tax credits under the Affordable Care Act.
LaHood told another media outlet he will likely vote against it.
“Clearly, we have to do something about the high cost of health care, but carte blanche, renewing the ACA tax credit is not the way to do it,” he said.
Sorensen said LaHood is stating a problem he agrees with — health care costs too much. But Sorensen said LaHood’s statement does not offer a solution and Republicans have not offered one in 15 years.
“It's time to end the lip service of saying 'repeal and replace.' Well, where is it? Where's the plan? ... There’s no plan at all,” said Sorensen, adding 17,000 families in his district will see their insurance premiums go up, and tens of thousands will lose coverage.
“I took a message from Molly, who lives in Moline. She works for a small mom and pop, and she said, you know, for the first time, Eric, I'm not going to be able to afford my insurance, and she’s my age. Let that sink in. For the first time in her life, she's been priced out of health insurance,” said Sorensen.
He added he's willing to work with Republicans on their plan — and meet them halfway.
