Pat Harrigan on January CR: Government Shutdowns and Healthcare Costs

Frustration Over Government Shutdown

• 🇺🇸 Congressman Pat Harrigan expresses frustration over the recent government shutdown, emphasizing that the solution—a clean continuing resolution—was available from the start.
• 💡 He notes that House Republicans had previously voted for clean continuing resolutions multiple times when Democrats were in power, expecting similar bipartisan respect.
• 🗓️ The current continuing resolution expires on January 30th, and Harrigan hopes for more rational decision-making to avoid future shutdowns.

The "For Country Caucus" Approach

• 🤝 Harrigan highlights the bipartisan "For Country Caucus," composed of lawmakers who are also veterans and committed to putting country over party.
• 💬 This group commiserates over political frustrations and actively seeks solutions, aiming to foster cooperation across the aisle.

Healthcare Costs and Policy Debates

• 🏥 Harrigan acknowledges that healthcare is unaffordable for a significant portion of Americans, even stating he opts out of the House healthcare package due to its high cost.
• ⚠️ He criticizes the Democratic party's strategy of shutting down the government over healthcare costs, calling it nonsensical and irresponsible.
• 🚫 Harrigan argues that policy debates on healthcare can and should occur while the government remains open, without negatively impacting federal employees and essential services.
• 📉 He believes that denying pay and services to troops, air traffic controllers, TSA agents, and 1.5 million government employees is a disingenuous way to fight for healthcare.