Goodman: Blasts GOP over ACA, shutdown tactics

TO THE EDITOR:

It is very hard to watch Mike Johnson talk about the shutdown with his condescending smirk and tone.

Johnson, Thune and Trump all assured Americans that there would be no cuts to Medicaid, Medicare or the ACA. Once the Big, Ugly Bill was passed it was obvious that it was a lie, and they have spent the last several months defending this lie.

Now facing the continuation bill, Johnson and Thune tell Democrats to just sign the bill and they will negotiate later. Everyone knows what will happen. The Republicans will refuse to negotiate, and we will find ourselves in the same situation at the end of December.

In the meantime, millions of hard-working Americans who have been able to obtain health insurance through the ACA will see their premiums skyrocket. Republicans lie when they tell you that Democrats want to give health insurance to illegal immigrants. They argue that extending the ACA subsidies will add a trillion dollars to the deficit.

Republicans didn't have a problem extending the trillion-dollar tax cuts that benefit the wealthiest Americans the most. Remember when Republicans told Americans they were going to fight for the hard-working middle class? That was a lie.

Rent and mortgage payments are still high. Car and home insurance has risen substantially. Prescription drug costs continue to rise. The cost of groceries is still high. These were all things Trump promised he would address. More broken promises. These are the same people who want Americans to trust them and believe they will negotiate.

Unfortunately, Rep. Moolenaar is a yes man for Trump, when what is needed is independent thinking. If Mike Johnson and Republicans were interested in negotiating maybe they should have stayed in Washington instead of going home.

It is time to follow through and work on the issues of economic security for the middle class. Rep. Moolenaar needs to stand up for the people of his district and all Americans.

I ask the residents of his district to ask themselves if they are better off now and what has Rep. Moolenaar done to better your lives?

Daryl Goodman

Manistee