TRANSCRIPT: Leader Schumer Outside The Capitol Calls For Bipartisan Negotiations To Address The Republican-Created Healthcare Crisis And Fund The Government

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today answered reporters’ questions outside the Capitol on the need for Republicans to join Democrats at the negotiating table to address the healthcare crisis and fund the government. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks:

Leader Schumer: The country is in a healthcare crisis unlike we've ever seen. And Donald Trump, instead of leaving the country or before he leaves the country, should sit down and negotiate with us so we can address this horrible crisis. He should not be going away before he negotiates. The American people are in crisis.

Reporter: WIC and SNAP were supposed to run out of funding on November 1st. Does that change Democrats' calculus at all?

Schumer: No, it should change Republican calculus that they should sit down and negotiate a way to address this crisis. They caused it. They're the ones maintaining it. All they've got to do is sit down and do what has been done time and time and time again on any of these CR issues. Sit down and negotiate with the other side. Ask them.

Reporter: Has the White House responded to your request for a meeting that you made?

Schumer: Not directly. We saw something the President said at his meeting, but we haven't heard a direct response. And we're going to follow up.

Reporter: We asked Speaker Johnson a few minutes ago, and he said he was on the phone with the president who said he doesn't want to meet with you until after the government is open again.

Schumer: The president should meet with us. It's not me, him, or anything political. It's that the people are in crisis. Every day they're getting these bills, these notifications of how much they're going to pay, and they're just, people are just struck of the difficulty they will be in. Not having healthcare, not being able to pay the rent if they pay for healthcare. They're just shocked at how bad this is. And Trump has an obligation to negotiate with us and solve this problem. Thanks.

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