November 4th
By Jeff Cole
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WWNY) – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik says Democrats are using the government shutdown for political gain on Election Day.
In a phone interview Tuesday with 7 News, Stefanik says she thinks SNAP benefits should be funded 100 percent and that her votes to reopen the government have tried to do just that.
She blames Democrats for putting those who rely on food assistance in their current position and thinks Democrats will help end the shutdown after Election Day.
“What I am hearing from my colleagues in Washington is that Chuck Schumer is going to wait until after today’s election, which is really the height of political cynicism. Ultimately, I think Chuck Schumer will fold because he has hurt the American people and there will be a clean funding bill to get this done out of the Senate, which the House has already done,” said Stefanik (R. – 21st District).
Senate Minority Leader Schumer on the Senate floor Tuesday, said Democrats will continue to fight to keep health care tax credits, which is what the 2 sides are arguing about.
“Democrats are going to keep pushing to get these tax credits extended. The average American on an ACA plan will pay 114% more out-of-pocket. 4 million Americans will lose health insurance entirely. A 60-year-old couple earning $85,000 could pay a staggering $22,600 more a year. How the hell are they going to be able to afford that?” said Schumer (D. – NY).
Addison Dick, a spokesperson for the New York State Democratic Party, in a statement, tells 7NEWS, “Elise Stefanik could tell her boss Donald Trump to fully fund SNAP today – instead, Stefanik is making New Yorkers go hungry as she refuses to reopen the government. New Yorkers will hold Stefanik accountable for selling them out to Trump by enabling these cruel food assistance cuts.”
At 35 days, this government shutdown has tied the record for the longest.
