By Sam Barron | Wednesday, 08 October 2025 09:22 PM EDT
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has been criticized for allegedly catering to the far-left wing of his party, according to Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., who appeared on “Rob Schmitt Tonight” Wednesday. Marshall dismissed Democratic claims that the government shutdown is about reducing healthcare costs for Americans, stating the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is inherently unaffordable and riddled with fraud.
Democrats are pushing Republicans to extend expiring tax credits for ACA marketplace insurance, but Marshall argued the system’s flaws make such efforts futile. “The problem with the ACA is it’s not affordable,” he said, accusing Democrats of prioritizing ideological agendas over practical solutions. He called the shutdown “the Schumer shutdown,” claiming it was orchestrated by his party’s left flank to force a political showdown.
Marshall highlighted that Democrats abruptly shifted focus on expiring subsidies just two weeks before the shutdown, despite acknowledging the complexity of addressing systemic issues. “Even if we wanted to fix them, it would take a month to tackle the fraud,” he said. He also blamed the ACA for rising premiums, citing industry consolidation driven by overregulation.
The Kansas senator proposed legislation to increase healthcare transparency, urging hospitals to disclose costs upfront and expand healthcare savings accounts to empower patients as consumers. “Could you imagine going to a restaurant without knowing the price of your meal?” he asked.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
