Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., talks about the government shutdown : NPR

Leila Fadel, host:

Now let’s go to the member of the Democrat Congress Ritchie Torres in New York. His congress district includes large parts of the Bronx in New York. Hello, Member of the Congress, and thank you for joining us.

Ritchie Torres: It’s an honor to be with you.

Fadel: So I want to start with what we heard there. The president threatens to reduce the programs that Democrats cite, “like”. This morning, he threatened to cut, quote, “many democratic agencies”, referring to federal agencies. And he threatens mass layoffs. Will this work and bring democrats back to the table?

Torres: Well, there is nothing new there. Like, Donald Trump armed the government against his political enemies. He financed programs. He is committed to mass layoffs long before the government closed. He never needed a government closure to govern as an authoritarian. But the most important point is that there is a clear contrast. You know, the Democrats are in Washington, DC, determined to reopen the government and keep affordable health care, while the Republicans are on vacation. And the Republicans were more content to let the government close and let millions of Americans see massive peaks in their health care costs, and it is unacceptable for Democrats.

Fadel: Do you fear that this strategy will not turn around, and the Americans will blame your party because the government is closed, the longer it goes? What do you mean from your voters?

Torres: Look, the party that holds power is responsible. The Republicans control the White House, the Senate and the Chamber and therefore assume the ultimate responsibility for the closure.

Now, my voters are mainly concerned about the cost of living, in particular the cost of health care, which is the main cause of bankruptcy in America. The cost of families of overwhelming health care workers. And we cannot bear kinship and allow 4 million Americans to lose their health insurance, allow 24 million Americans to see a 75% increase in premiums, allowing our hospitals to absorb the loss of $ 20 billion. It is unacceptable. Our health care system may fall from a cliff. And we are going to do our best to reopen the government and protect health care.

Fadel: Let me ask you about this because that is what the Democrats said behind them who do not rise on this continuous resolution, right? And the Republicans would not even allow the Democrats of counter-proposition on the soil of the room. I mean, how does this closure help the objective of restoring health care cuts and preserving these Obamacares – the Act respecting affordable care – subsidies to expire in December?

Torres: Listen, for Democrats, doing nothing is not an option. For example, we must protect our health care system. We cannot trust the Republicans to do the right thing for themselves. For example, what we need is not confidence but verification. And the best form of verification is a real bipartite agreement that reopens the government and protects health care, protects tax credits for improved ACA premiums.

Fadel: Why do you need to get it this way? I mean, why not agree to continue the resolution, then negotiate with the Republicans later, is that what they say?

Torres: Again, a part that eviscerates Medicaid by a dollars Billion cannot be reliable to protect health care. For example, we have no choice but to pursue a negotiated result. Republicans are more than happy to let 4 million people lose their health insurance, are more than happy to leave 24 million people to see a 75% increase in their premiums. For example, the Republicans, you know – we are not going to put our faith in the Republicans who have emptied Medicaid by a dollars Billion. This is the bad strategy.

Fadel: And what do you say to the voters who will suffer during the closure, who may be on leave, who could be one of the people taking place? What do you tell them?

Torres: Look, my voters want the Democratic Party to fight. For example, those of us who are democrats have a simple choice. We can either stay passively and allow Donald Trump to empty our democracy, empty our health care, or we can fight. And we have chosen to fight for the health care of the American people. And the majority of Americans want to see an agreement that reopens the government but also retains health care – affordable health care for tens of millions of Americans.

Fadel: And very quickly, do you hear more will of the Republicans on this subject?

Torres: Listen so far, the Republicans are on vacation, but we will do everything possible to put pressure on the Republicans to return to DC and reopen the government because – and do the work of the people.

Fadel: Ritchie Torres is a member of the New York Democrat Congress. Thank you for your time.

Torres: Of course.

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