US Senator James Lankford (R-OK), Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference, recently addressed the Senate regarding the ongoing government shutdown. He called on Senate Democrats to end what has become the longest full government shutdown in history and criticized the impact it is having on federal workers.
During his remarks, Lankford highlighted personal stories to illustrate how the shutdown is affecting individuals. “I’d love to introduce this Senate to a couple that I know. Husband [and] wife both work for the federal government. Young couple expecting their first child. This week they will miss a paycheck. Both of them. You tell me how many people in their early days of marriage, both spouses could miss a paycheck while they’re preparing for their first child? But that’s the reality that’s being faced by that couple.”
He also spoke about a single mother who was set to begin training as an air traffic controller at the FAA academy but now faces uncertainty due to the shutdown: “She’s quit her job already. She’s canceled her lease already. She was preparing to move to get to the academy. Now, what does she do?”
Lankford criticized Senate Democrats’ stance during negotiations over reopening the government, referencing statements from House Democrats about families needing to suffer for leverage in policy discussions: “For all the folks out there that say, ‘Government shutdowns? No big deal.’ Or as my Democratic colleagues in the House have said, ‘Some families are going to have to suffer to give us leverage.’ Here are the families that are actually suffering to give my Democratic colleagues leverage, so they can discuss health care.”
He pointed out concerns with Affordable Care Act subsidies and rising insurance costs in Oklahoma: “…Their focus seems to be on a Covid era subsidy that they created for the Affordable Care Act to try to make it more affordable. Because here’s the problem. In my state,in Oklahoma, the Affordable Care Act, the cost for it has increased 200% in six years. While commercial insurance has increased 29% in those same six years.”
Lankford further alleged issues with fraud related to these subsidies and argued against methods used by Democrats which he says circumvent restrictions on federal funding for abortions: “They say just keep dumping more money into it… And my Democratic colleagues have told me privately, we know there’s a lot of fraud… We also know… They went around the Hyde Amendment… so they could send money…to pay for elective abortions.”
On compensation for federal employees working during this period without pay, Lankford stated: “…For all the folks today that are on the road working for the federal government that are in critical positions, that they’re not being paid… It’s not right.” He added: “…At a minimum, let’s at least while we’re arguing, pay federal workers that are still at the task. That should be the easiest threshold to be able to step over.”
The debate continues as lawmakers seek resolution amid impacts felt by thousands of public sector employees.
