Maryland Democrats, led by Olszewski, oppose Senate shutdown agreement
Maryland Democrats, led by Representative Johnny Olszewski, have voiced opposition to the Senate’s plan aimed at ending the government shutdown. Olszewski, representing most of Baltimore County, believes the proposal fails to assist Americans struggling with healthcare costs.
Olszewski’s Stance on Senate Shutdown Agreement
On Monday, Olszewski announced his intent to reject the current Senate plan if it reaches the House for a vote. He emphasized that, “The deal is a non-starter for this Democrat in the House of Representatives.” Olszewski criticized the absence of extended subsidies for individuals relying on the Affordable Care Act, which he views as essential for addressing healthcare issues.
Democratic Concerns
Olszewski, along with other Democratic lawmakers, has underscored the necessity of including healthcare subsidies for a potential agreement to end the shutdown. He remains optimistic, asserting that raising these concerns reflects a broader movement towards the Democratic Party. “People are not supportive of the extreme actions they are seeing from this administration,” he noted.
Future Budget Considerations
Another significant point of contention for Olszewski is the lack of provisions in the Senate plan to prevent unilateral budget cuts by the Trump administration. He expressed his intention to propose an amendment in the House to safeguard the agreed budget. “After we have a bipartisan deal… that should stick,” he stated.
- Kweisi Mfume’s Opposition: Fellow Democrat Kweisi Mfume, representing Baltimore City, echoed Olszewski’s concerns. He remarked that any agreement not addressing rising healthcare premiums and essential living costs is unacceptable.
- Republican Perspective: Meanwhile, Maryland’s only Republican Congressman, Andy Harris, is still evaluating the Senate plan but has shown potential support.
- Senatorial Opposition: Maryland’s Democratic Senators, Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, also oppose the Senate agreement. Van Hollen highlighted that the plan fails to tackle increasing health insurance costs and lacks protections against presidential budget manipulations.
Conclusion
The Maryland Democratic delegation’s unified stance against the Senate shutdown agreement reflects their commitment to addressing healthcare and budget issues. Olszewski and his colleagues are prepared to advocate for necessary reforms in any forthcoming negotiations.
