Rep. Tom Cole on Democrats Blackmailing Congress with Government Shutdown Demands

Government Spending Bill Negotiations

• 🎯 House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole expresses concern over the stalled government spending bill, noting that for the first time in 20 years, a full spending plan is unlikely.
• 💡 Cole states that Democrats are demanding unrelated items like Medicaid and Obamacare subsidies, which are not typically part of appropriations, in an effort to extort government operations.
• ⚠️ He argues that Democrats are attempting to blackmail the administration and Republicans to achieve unrelated objectives, a tactic he believes will not succeed.

The Obamacare Subsidies Debate

• 💰 While acknowledging that Obamacare subsidies are a legitimate point for negotiation, Cole highlights that they are not due to expire until December 31st, making their inclusion in the current short-term bill (expiring November 21st) nonsensical.
• 🗣️ He criticizes the hypocrisy of Democrats, who have previously chastised Republicans for government shutdowns, now employing similar tactics themselves.
• ⚖️ Cole is concerned that if the Senate includes these subsidies in a deal, House Republicans may refuse to pass it, complicating the legislative process.

The Reality of Government Shutdowns

• 🚫 Cole is firmly against government shutdowns, having opposed them when Republicans initiated them and noting Democrats have also used them (e.g., Schumer over DACA in 2017).
• 📉 He asserts that shutdowns never achieve their intended objectives and put millions of lives at risk, impacting individuals living paycheck to paycheck.
• 🤝 Cole emphasizes that discussions and negotiations are necessary but should not involve the threat of shutting down the government, which is a dangerous tactic that is difficult to recover from.