Joco Today

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas appeared on Bloomberg’s Balance of Power to discuss the ongoing budget negotiations with Senate Democrats, the possibility of a government shutdown, and recent announcements regarding drug prices from the White House.

During the interview, Senator Marshall addressed concerns about continuing subsidies related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), specifically those introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic. He stated, “Well, I woke up this morning and I felt like I had a woman in labor. She’s stuck at seven centimeters, and I don’t know if she will deliver tonight or tomorrow, but I wish I had some Pitocin to give Congress and to get this baby out and to finish the job. Yeah, look, these are extra subsidies. These are not the original Obamacare subsidies. These are extra subsidies from the Covid era, covid era subsidies, and we need to debate them. You know, the course, they cost a lot more than we thought they would, probably $35 billion a year.

“On the other hand, the cost of insurance has quadrupled this century. So, I totally get, you know, the concern there, but I think really keeping the government open tonight is our main job today. Keep the government open, and reasonable spending as well. I feel like Chuck Schumer is fighting for his political life, and his base has not realized that they lost the election.

“If I could go back to 2020, the Democrats win the House, the Senate, and the White House, they come in, they spend trillions of dollars more than we wanted, and we went through the next couple of years, I think over a dozen times Republicans voted for a continuing resolution just like we’re doing tonight. And we never once asked them to rescind that package of spending. We wouldn’t like to but we didn’t shut the government down over it. Now we feel like he’s shutting the government down over our one big beautiful bill and these Covid-era expenditures as well.”

Marshall also discussed potential legislation regarding ACA subsidies: “Yeah, and I assume that some of that is happening. I would have thought that Chuck Schumer would have come to the White House this weekend rather than... all of a sudden he’s being very dishonest and saying we’re not negotiating. Susan Collins and Appropriations team have negotiated until they’re blue in face... They even had an agreement on what to do with this continuing resolution.

“So...if we fix these Covid-era subsidies then we got a deal... And by way what should be talking about is cost health care... my transparency bill... price tags bill that's going force hospitals show exactly what it's going cost... driving prescription drug prices down by reforming PBMs... Let's go after real root problem... But instead drama tonight that's basically going take all oxygen out room for next foreseeable future.”

When asked whether he would support ending Covid-era subsidies immediately or phasing them out: “So it’s all above… The Obamacare subsidies were set for people under 400% poverty level… Now we're going up way over 400 500 600% percent poverty level… People making $200000 year family four getting these subsidies… I think should dial them down over next two three years give us chance fix health care drive down price health care which true problem.”

On possible outcomes if a shutdown occurs: “Oh I think after three or five days this people will find religion on this after see what President doing executes some those then think Democrats find religion again… This political question for Chuck Schumer… His far-left base crucified him when kept government open spring… He's afraid do again… He's afraid AOC going primary him all those things going on…”

Marshall commented on how layoffs might be handled during any shutdown: “I think President world champion negotiator he's negotiating through press many ways try make best bad situation try take lemons turn into lemonade…I think that's what he's saying…but he's negotiating.”

Regarding how long any shutdown might last or how it could end: “I don't think Chuck Schumer knows… We do know ball his court all he has agree simple extension 24 pages about four five weeks as well then can keep negotiating…and those extra Covid subsidies won’t expire until end year…”

He also addressed recent actions by President Trump aimed at lowering drug prices: “Yeah I've been having private conversations with Big Pharma as well…I think they're sticking together trying force foreign countries pay their share so speak 80% their business though United States… By working with Secretary Bessent USTR Secretary Greer as well we're going find some sweet spot…I know it's not simple…

“I do think if you want me save Medicare though need drug Alzheimer’s can't kill golden goose here need pharma keep innovating so we're going have figure it out…and there’ll be some headwinds we'll have change our way as go into wind.”

The discussion comes amid continued disagreement between parties over federal spending levels and healthcare policy extensions.