WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after anti-worker extremists in Congress refused to address massive cuts to health care and rising costs, resulting in a government shutdown:
“As families across the country are crushed by skyrocketing health care costs, anti-worker extremists in Congress are driving a shutdown rather than funding public services, protecting care for millions and keeping hospitals open. The administration and its yes-men and women in Congress created a health care crisis that has pushed our system to the brink of collapse and now they’re treating federal workers like bargaining chips. They’re threatening the very people who inspect our food, protect our water, and keep our communities safe, all to shield tax breaks for billionaires and corporations that don’t need another dime.
“This shutdown is a one-two punch for working families: On top of crumbling health care access, communities will now lose critical federal services they depend on every day. Workers understand that this is a choice, and that anti-worker politicians chose to protect billionaire wealth while abandoning the rest of us. Enough. It’s time to stop playing games with our health, our jobs and our families. Fund the government. Fix the health care crisis. And put working people first.”