TPA Applauds Impending End to Costly Government Shutdown

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kara Zupkus (224)-456-0257

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This evening, the House of Representatives is slated to pass a stopgap funding measure to fund the federal government through January 30^th. Passage of the bill would mark an end to the longest government shutdown in American history. The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) has long called for an end to the shutdown by passing a “clean” bill without costly add-ons such as expiring enhanced Premium Tax Credits for Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance plans.

In response, Dan Savickas, Vice President of Policy & Government Affairs offered the following comment:

“Policymakers often use the threat of a government shutdown as leverage to accomplish separate policy priorities. While these priorities may be noble and worthy of consideration, the initiation of a government shutdown never goes according to plan. Discussion invariably turns toward dysfunction in Washington and the initial aims end up getting buried in a news cycle of partisan bickering. In this case, lawmakers chose to make a misguided stand to extend expiring ACA credits that helped wealthy Americans and large insurers at the expense of everyone else.

“Meanwhile, the American economy suffers. Due to lower consumer confidence – as well as tens of thousands of workers going without pay – businesses see fewer customers during a shutdown. Some estimates show this government shutdown cost the American economy as much as $15 billion each week, for a total price tag nearing $100 billion. This is in addition to the massive disruptions to air travel, hindering millions of travel plans in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving.

“This shutdown was not about protecting the American people or their health insurance. Members of Congress have months to discuss the issues important to the American public. Yet, they wait until the last minute to make a point when the stakes are high, not caring who gets hurt in the process. It’s no wonder why trust in Congress remains so low. Ending this shutdown is a good first step in restoring that trust and should serve as a lesson for lawmakers in the future tempted to try any similar stunts.”