Text SIGN PFPXLI to 50409 — Once again, Republicans are demanding that the American people trust their word — and once again, that word is worthless. After forty days of chaos and hardship, the so-called “deal” to reopen the government offers nothing but empty promises. The GOP has agreed only to allow a future vote on extending Affordable Care Act premium subsidies — with no guarantee of passage, no commitment from the House, and no enforcement mechanism. That’s not a concession; it’s a con. Republicans caused this shutdown by holding the country hostage — cutting off paychecks, freezing food benefits, halting air travel, and inflicting needless suffering — all to force Democrats to reopen the government on their terms. And what did they offer in return? • A “promise” of a vote they plan to block. • A “guarantee” of back pay that’s already required by law. • A few appropriations bills the Senate is constitutionally obligated to pass anyway. Meanwhile, their budget still guts SNAP, veterans’ programs, and the ACA subsidies that keep tens of millions insured. If those subsidies expire, average premiums will jump 114%, from about $888 to $1,900 a year — pushing millions of working families off coverage entirely. Republicans have perfected a cycle of hostage politics: cause a crisis, promise to fix it later, then walk away once the damage is done. Each time, Americans are left holding the bag. This isn’t compromise — it’s coercion. I’m urging you to reject this deal unless it includes a binding, bipartisan extension of the ACA premium tax credits. Congress must stop rewarding bad-faith tactics with political victories. Every time we give in, it teaches them that cruelty works. The American people are exhausted by performative politics. We deserve leadership that delivers results — not more “trust me” promises from a party that has broken every one. Please hold firm. Protect healthcare, defend workers, and refuse to reopen government on a foundation of lies.

YouTube video by Heather Cox Richardson

Text SIGN PQONFJ to 50409 — The federal government is shut down, and every day of delay damages our economy, our credibility, and the lives of ordinary Americans. Federal employees are missing paychecks, small businesses are losing contracts, and millions of families are caught in uncertainty while the House remains paralyzed. The Constitution gives Congress — not any one Speaker — the duty to keep the government funded and functioning. Yet Speaker Mike Johnson has canceled regular sessions and refused to swear in Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva, duly chosen by the voters of Arizona more than six weeks ago. That denial of representation harms not only her district but the entire country, because the House cannot complete the appropriations process or negotiate a budget while one seat remains willfully empty. This shutdown can be resolved only through a comprehensive funding package that meets real national needs — including an extension of the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced tax credits, which keep health insurance affordable for more than 15 million Americans. Allowing those credits to lapse in January would raise premiums for working families by hundreds of dollars each month and deepen the economic strain caused by the shutdown itself. Equally urgent is the moral duty to provide justice for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. The discharge petition to release the Epstein files deserves immediate consideration. Every survivor deserves truth and accountability, no matter who the abusers or enablers were. Transparency is not a partisan act; it is a prerequisite for trust in government. I urge you to: 1. Demand Adelita Grijalva’s immediate swearing-in so Arizona’s voters regain their representation and the House can return to legislative work. 2. Reconvene the House immediately to complete the twelve appropriations bills required to fund the government and end the shutdown. 3. Include in those negotiations an extension of the ACA tax credits to maintain affordable health coverage for millions of Americans. 4. Ensure a vote on the Epstein-files discharge petition so justice for victims is not delayed by political calculation. 5. Support any lawful procedural remedy, including a motion to vacate the chair, if the Speaker continues to block legislative business. This is a moment for leadership, not loyalty to dysfunction. The American people need a functioning Congress — one that restores government operations, safeguards affordable health care, and stands for transparency and justice.

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