Sunflower State News

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) appeared on NewsNation’s The Hill to discuss the ongoing government shutdown, which he referred to as the "Schumer Shutdown," and its potential impact on rural America and health care.

Marshall argued that the current impasse is politically motivated. “Yeah. Lindsey, well, you know, I’m a doctor. I’m an OB doctor. I would love to give this legislation some Pitocin right now and get some get this legislation moving somewhere. But it’s not happening. And with all due respect, I think the reason why this is a political shutdown is that Chuck Schumer has responded to the far left, liberal side of his party, who have forced him to shut down. They forced him to take this hostage. You know, basically, they’re saying that they want us to extend these COVID subsidies for health care. Look, I’m very willing to talk about those subsidies, but not in the context of keeping the government open. I think these are two separate issues. And just remind the Democrats that in a similar situation with Joe Biden as president, they passed about $2 trillion of extra spending each year, and when it came for us to keep the government open, we did that without asking them to retract that money. So, I think that America is seeing through this, and they’re going to claim this as a Schumer shutdown.”

He raised concerns about fraud in health care subsidies related to COVID-19 relief measures: “Yeah, so I think let’s be a little bit more specific. The COVID subsidies were meant to expire in five years. The real problem with these subsidies, though, is the fraud. They’ve grown from 50 to $150 billion a year. We think there’s $25 billion a year of fraud. We need to go back and figure out where that fraud is coming from. And then the real elephant in the room is the cost of health care. Those premiums are going to go up this year. Americans are paying 400% more for health care today than they were a couple of decades ago. So, let’s fall back. Let’s work on the true problems. That’s the cost of health care, rather than just asking the government to pay more and more of the subsidy.”

On potential job cuts resulting from the shutdown among federal workers in Washington D.C., Marshall noted limited activity at Congress: “You know, I’m sure when we go back on the floor tomorrow, we’ll talk with them, some of those people. I’m in a bipartisan prayer breakfast every Wednesday morning as well. So, we’ll see each other, hopefully tomorrow. And it’s pretty scarce right now. I think I saw only one other member of Congress in the in the entire capital today. I don’t think there’s any movement today. And again, I think the real movement is just a commitment that Republicans will negotiate with them on these COVID subsidies for the ACA legislation.”

Marshall reiterated his stance on responsibility for what he termed "the Schumer shutdown": “This is a political Schumer shutdown that he is being threatened by AOC, the squad, and the left, that he’s scared of a primary. But more than that, I think he’s concerned that AOC and these liberals are cannibalizing their own party. So he sees this party slipping away from him.” He added further speculation regarding Democratic leadership dynamics.

Addressing rural voters’ interests and former President Trump’s role moving forward amid policy uncertainty affecting agriculture and trade sectors important for rural economies—including crop insurance provisions—Marshall said: “Look 97% of rural counties voted for President Trump He’s not going to let them fail He’s got their back This is a short gap measure The good thing is from our One Big Beautiful Bill we passed legislation that's going help with crop insurance and problems like this but it's not going be impactful until next year So I think this is bridge future The other thing we can focus on that's President Trump priority tax credit called 45Z which's going help us take these soybeans turn them into jet fuel someday So there are other things we can do besides trade By way we're going have increased exports soybeans five or 10% over last year We had steady decline export farm income under Joe Biden but now we're way back up”

Senator Marshall highlighted Republican efforts aimed at supporting rural communities through agricultural policy changes such as crop insurance improvements and new tax credits intended for alternative fuel development.