The New York Republican Party has criticized Democratic members of Congress from New York for their stance on the recent government shutdown. NYGOP Chair Ed Cox issued a statement alleging that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and other New York Democrats in Congress prioritized political leverage over reopening the federal government. Cox also stated that Governor Kathy Hochul supports this position.
Cox said, “Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, and every New York Democrat in Congress have made it clear that they would prefer to keep the government closed and continue their game of legislative extortion – and Kathy Hochul stands with them.”
He acknowledged that some progress had been made: “Thankfully, eight Democratic senators finally came to their senses and voted to reopen the government.”
Cox accused New York Democrats of prolonging the shutdown by insisting on additional subsidies for certain Affordable Care Act insurance plans. He claimed these subsidies were intended only for the pandemic period and would now cost $360 billion over ten years.
“Earth to Democrats: the pandemic ended years ago,” Cox added.
He attributed disruptions such as jeopardized SNAP benefits, furloughed federal employees, and unpaid air traffic controllers and TSA agents to decisions made by Democrats:
“The only reason SNAP benefits were jeopardized was that Democrats voted to shut down the government.
The only reason hundreds of thousands of government employees were furloughed was that Democrats voted to shut down the government.
The only reason air traffic controllers and TSA agents were required to work without pay was that Democrats voted to shut down the government.”
Cox concluded his remarks by saying: “This shutdown never should have happened. It did because Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, and every Democratic House member from New York voted to shut down the government. And if they had their way, the federal government would remain closed through Thanksgiving, at the expense of SNAP benefits for low-income Americans and travel nightmares for everyone.”
Governor Kathy Hochul has served as governor since 2021. She is a member of the Democratic Party and is recognized as New York’s first female governor (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathy_Hochul).
