Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren shouted over “CBS Mornings” host Tony Dokoupil on Thursday as he confronted her on Democrats wanting to give healthcare to non-citizens.
Dokoupil pointed to the Democrats’ counter-proposal to the Republicans’ continuing resolution (CR), which Republicans said would have provided healthcare to some non-citizens that are no longer eligible for those benefits under President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.” A visibly frustrated Warren quickly interrupted Dokoupil to state that Republicans are blatantly lying about her party wanting to give healthcare to illegal immigrants.
“Republicans say what you’re really fighting for is taxpayer dollars, as they put it, for illegal aliens. I know that’s not strictly true, but there is a provision—” Dokoupil added.
“Excuse me, not strictly true. It is a flat-out lie. It is a flat-out lie!” Warren said. “There is nothing in Medicaid, there is nothing in Medicare that permits one undocumented immigrant to get one dollar of assistance. None, zero.”
“Senator, if you would like me finish the question,” Dokoupil said. “In the Democratic counter offer, the proposal for funding, there is a restoration for Medicaid benefits for certain non-citizens that had been taken away in the big, beautiful bill as Republicans put it. Republicans don’t think those people should be getting healthcare on the taxpayers’ dime, I’m not asking on the merits. Politically, putting that in there exposes you to this talking point, this lie as you put it. Why put it in there? Why is it worth it?”
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Warren denied this claim, and argued that Democrats want to ensure that hospitals are able to provide emergency care to any patient and still get reimbursed.
The Democrats voted to shut the government down on Wednesday because the Republicans’ CR did not include an extension of a Biden-era Obamacare subsidies in exchange for their support. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) previously estimated that such a permanent extension of the tax credit would expand the deficit by $350 billion between 2026 and 2035.
Republicans said that Congress should first focus on government funding before discussing any tax credit extensions.
Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and independent Maine Sen. Angus King, who caucuses with Democrats, were the only caucus members to vote in favor of keeping the government open. Fetterman said he voted for “our country over [his] party” and that the shutdown was a “sad day for our nation.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt predicted on Thursday that the shutdown will lead to “thousands” of federal layoffs in the coming days.
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