Rep. Fedorchak on FOX: “Republicans are unwilling to compromise on common sense.”
Washington D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) joined Josh Breslow on LiveNOW from FOX to share her perspectives on the Democrat-led government shutdown. Check out below:
On what Republicans are unwilling to compromise on:
Republicans are simply unwilling to compromise on common sense. So many of the reforms that we included that the Democrats now want to unwind are just commonsense things that Americans support. Americans don't want to be providing Medicaid and health care for legal aliens. We don't want to compromise on providing the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund to help rural hospitals throughout this country. We don't want to compromise on eliminating work requirements for able-bodied, healthy Americans who receive benefits. Those are the commonsense solutions that we're not willing to compromise on in order to get past this.
On her message to Democrats:
I would encourage the Democrats across the aisle to listen to what they've said in the past. Listen to their own words on how they have approached government shutdowns in the past. We've got Hakeem, Jeffries, Chuck Schumer, Nancy, Pelosi—all firmly opposed to government shutdowns, talking about how damaging they are for Americans. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez has said shutting down the government should not happen when you don't get your way. It was her very first Floor speech. So first and foremost, I would encourage them to listen to what they've said in the past and then get on board. We will address these issues after we open back the government and get past this Continuing Resolution.
On what message this sends to the American people:
Well, I think it sends a strong message that the Democrats really are willing to put politics over people. What we have provided is a very common sense, simple solution—something that Democrats have supported many times in the past, and Republicans have too. We went along with continuing resolutions 13 times under President Biden. This is a simple solution. It is nonpartisan, non-controversial, and we should be able to get past this. The Democrats digging their heels in like this just sends a very strong message that they're supporting politics over people, and political theater over problem solving.
On next steps:
I'm very hopeful that as Leader Thune brings forward this Continuing Resolution multiple times over the course of the next few days, that more Democrats will see the light and come on board, and we'll be able to pass this and then get back to business as usual on Monday. That's my sincere hope.
On her message to Americans:
I know people get tired of the finger pointing and think that everyone's pointing finger at the other side as being the problem, but truly, we have just brought forward a very simple plan, a 24-page, simple solution to keep the government open at its current funding levels so that we can go about the business of the day. There's a very simple solution: having the Democrats come along board and support this and we can move on.