Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri is criticizing Republican Senator Ted Cruz's marathon speech on the Affordable Care Act, saying he did it to promote himself.
Cruz held the Senate floor for more than 21 hours, hoping to rally his colleagues to dismantle President Barack Obama’s health care law in an upcoming spending bill. His pseudo-filibuster is opposed by both Democrats and some Republicans, who are concerned that by the time he’s done, the House won’t have time to respond to the Senate’s decision. If a deal is not reached by the House and Senate, the government may face a partial shutdown after midnight on Monday.
McCaskill, a Democrat, said that negotiating a settlement is necessary.
“We are sent here to govern, not to score political points,” said McCaskill, “It is unrealistic and inappropriate to negotiate over paying our bills, and it is certainly unrealistic to threaten to shut down the government.”
Despite the controversy surrounding the Affordable Care Act, McCaskill maintains that the Act will benefit Missourians across the state.
“This is their tax dollars that are coming back,” McCaskill said. “In a way that will help them have affordable and accessible healthcare for hundreds and thousands of Missourians who have never had healthcare at work.”
McCaskill spoke against Cruz’s pseudo-filibuster and in favor of Obamacare this morning on MSNBC:
Follow Kate Essig on Twitter: @kateessig
