Sunflower State News

On Friday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas appeared on CNN’s News Central with Brianna Keilar to discuss the ongoing government shutdown, which he referred to as the “Schumer Shutdown.” Marshall argued that the current situation is politically motivated and primarily affects rural communities.

Addressing issues related to Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, Marshall stated: “Yeah, I think that people need to understand these were COVID-era subsidies, and the challenge before them is there’s a lot of fraud. It’s grown from 50 to $150 billion a year. Probably a third of that is fraud, waste, and abuse. And as you described, what’s going on there with the premiums? They need to realize that, regardless of what happens here, the insurance premiums are going up 20% I want to lock in on the real problem here, take care of the fraud, and then have legislation help bring the cost of health care down. That’s what we need to be focused on. And we can work on that between now and the end of the year as well. But this needs to be an argument separate from keeping the government open right now. I’m happy to work on these, but people need to realize there’s a lot of fraud, waste, and abuse in them right now.”

Marshall also discussed rising health care costs: “Yeah, look, the premiums are going to go up, and they’re going to go up because of the ACA. The ACA has caused overregulation. It’s led to the consolidation of the industry. So, people need to realize all we’re doing is increasing the subsidy on these ACA bills. But we do have bills that we will go through Congress this month, in the next two months, that make a price tags bill. Could you imagine walking into a restaurant without knowing the cost of your meal? We want to do that the same way with health care. We want to expand HAS’s. We want to clip the wings of the pharmacy benefit managers. We want to go after a MAHA, making America healthy again, all those things would help, but you’re right. It’s going to take years for that to unwind. So if we can figure out a way to take care of waste, fraud and abuse and make sure that we’re helping those who really need help with these subsidies I’m willing have that discussion but not as hostage keeping government open.”

He attributed responsibility for the shutdown primarily to Democratic leadership: “Oh I think that's very false scenario right there I think everybody realizes this is Schumer shutdown that this is politically driven shutdown driven by AOC and squad liberal Marxist portion Democrat party I think that's truly truly what's going here That's because none their arguments makes sense Why they're trying shut it down just doesn't make any sense anybody So would just discount poll altogether And that's not what I'm hearing from back home.”

Marshall continued: “I don’t think you can take a snapshot like that What I'm hearing back home is people think this Schumer shutdown This political shutdown AOC has hijacked party this direction they want go they've taken prisoner these COVID subsidies Regardless if these COVID subsidies go away federal government still going paying least 80% premium Maybe government paying 90% it right now So if some people are going from $0 maybe $3 week what they'll have contribute it But do we need paying huge amounts subsidies people making $200000 year Is right way spend money And again go back waste fraud abuse maybe third money fraudulent.”

Regarding concerns about potential job cuts at USDA due to the shutdown Marshall said: “So what's interesting talked lot USDA folks back home who were doing their jobs They're caught up there great spot right now We're still at way higher than pre covid levels for number jobs federal government including USDA Think about this when Joe Biden started.”

“We're still higher than pre covid levels for these ag jobs you're talking about We went from 2.8 million federal jobs 3 million federal jobs under Joe Biden We're at about 2.9 right now We had plenty people federal government doing their jobs before COVID Everybody know we're caught up work we're getting work done record times There's new technology We don't need all extra people We need people move from federal government into real workforce where they're being productive adding GDP So no I'm not worried at all We probably still have slim down this federal government some.”

“Under Joe Biden those jobs grew by 20 30% probably 30% conservation group you're talking about It became too bloated offices back Kansas So look jobs being done Farmers everything they need getting done right now so they're staying caught up Yes government people need come office They need work more efficiently They need embrace technology all types things don't need people sitting around just trading emails So very happy where are think we're probably still little bit fat all federal agencies.”

“I can remember first terraces my grandfather built soil erosion I'm telling you plenty NRCS officers back home Job's getting done Farmers being taken care Actually both Ag departments out told me record amounts time ahead schedule year getting all work done So great place think you're deflecting from real issue here political shutdown appease Chuck Schumer's left This Schumer shutdown These smoke screens you're talking about.”