Missouri Congressman Alford: ‘Misery’ Is All Shutdown Has Left to Offer

(Missourinet) Missouri Republican Congressman Mark Alford is responding to Democratic leaders in the state who say they won’t support reopening the federal government unless Republicans agree to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies. 

Alford says there needs to be a serious conversation about health care in America—but not at the expense of keeping the government shut down.

Alford said:  “But they know as well as we know that it’s got to go through some committee, whether it’s Ways and Means or Energy and Commerce and perhaps both because there’s taxes involved, there’s Medicare involved. But I’m surprised that it’s gone on this long.”

The federal government shutdown began October 1, and in Missouri, it’s already impacting key programs like SNAP and WIC—putting food assistance for hundreds of thousands of families at risk if the stalemate continues into November.