Rep. Kiggans Shuts Down Government Rather Than Support Working Families
Congressional Republicans Continue Attack on Health Care Costs to Fund Billionaires’ Tax Cuts
Virginia Beach, VA – Last night, joining her colleagues in Congress, Rep. Jen Kiggans shut down the federal government, sending our country’s economy and our local economy into a tailspin. Tariffs are already driving up the costs of daily necessities, insurance premiums are going up, and now, with Rep Kiggans’ vote, health care tax credits are on the line. This shutdown will only push working Virginian families closer to the brink.
“When I moved to Virginia Beach to care for my parents, I was only able to afford insurance because of the health care tax credits,” said Carolyn Atherholt, Virginia Beach resident. “Shortly after I moved here, I broke my foot and was unable to work. Without the tax credits, I know I would be in medical debt and behind in other areas of my life. But that little cushion helped me get by. Now, I run a small business and care for my 95-year-old mother, so having this support really makes a difference in my life. When I heard Rep. Jen Kiggans say that ‘we don’t need these,’ I don’t know who she was talking about. I do need this. The tax credit is the difference between seeing a doctor or not, for me. Kiggans shouldn’t turn her back on us so that billionaires can have another tax break. To shut the government down to make sure we don’t have these credits makes me think she doesn’t care about people like me.”
“Virginia has one of the highest civilian government employee populations in the country, and our local economy is built around that stability,” said Emily Yeatts, Affordable Virginia Campaigns Director. “Those workers are who support small businesses like Carolyn’s. Entire communities will feel the impact, whether they work for the government or not, and Rep. Kiggans keeps saying they can find other jobs – where? Her flippant comments prove that she’s not listening to her constituents. They need these tax credits and they need these jobs, but she continues to prioritize giving another tax cut to billionaires. Today, she shut down the government to do just that. We need Rep. Kiggans to step up and show her constituents she cares with support for a plan to lower health care costs and reopen the government.”