Joco Today

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.” The senator addressed its effects on rural communities and federal workers.

During the interview, Marshall criticized the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidy system, describing it as outdated and plagued by fraud. He 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 spoke about rising health care costs under current policies: “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 Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and certain Democratic members: “Oh I think that's a very false scenario right there...I think everybody realizes this is a Schumer shutdown—that this is politically driven shutdown driven by AOC and squad liberal Marxist portion Democrat party...None their arguments makes sense why they're trying shut it down...So would just discount poll altogether...That's not what I'm hearing back home.”

He further added: “I don’t think you can take snapshot like that...What I’m hearing back home is people think this Schumer shutdown...This political shutdown AOC hijacked party direction they want go taken prisoner COVID subsidies...Regardless if COVID subsidies go away federal government still paying at least 80% premium maybe government paying 90% right now...So some people going from $0 maybe $3 week what they'll have contribute it...But do we need paying huge amounts subsidies people making $200k year? Is right way spend money?...Again I go back waste fraud abuse maybe third money fraudulent.”

When asked about potential cuts at USDA due to furloughs or budget issues during shutdowns Marshall said: “So what's interesting talked lot USDA folks back home who were doing jobs caught up great spot right now we're still way higher than pre covid levels 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 went from 2.8 million federal jobs 3 million under Joe Biden We're at about 2.9 right now had plenty people federal government doing jobs before COVID Everybody know caught up work getting done record times There's new technology don't need extra people Need move federal government into real workforce where being productive adding GDP So no not worried at all probably still slim down federal government some.”

“Under Joe Biden those jobs grew by 20–30% probably 30% conservation group talking about became too bloated offices back Kansas look jobs being done Farmers everything needed getting done staying caught up Yes government people come office work more efficiently embrace technology types things don’t need sitting around trading emails Very happy where are probably still little bit fat all agencies.”

“I remember first terraces grandfather built soil erosion telling plenty NRCS officers job's getting done farmers being taken care Actually both Ag departments told me record amounts time ahead schedule year getting work done great place think deflecting real issue here political shutdown appease Chuck Schumer's left This Schumer shutdown All smoke screens talking about.”