Alex Padilla U.S. Senator for California

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of Affordable Care Act open enrollment starting tomorrow, November 1, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) issued the following statement on the spike in health care premium costs Californians and Americans across the country will face because of President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ refusal to negotiate with Democrats to keep health care affordable:

“Millions of Californians will see their health care costs double because Republicans in Congress put billionaire tax breaks ahead of making life more affordable for hardworking Americans. Trump’s tariff wars are hitting families with an extra $2,000 a year, but Republicans would rather shut down the government than protect families from losing their health care. And the nearly 2 million people who rely on Covered California are paying the price.”

Senator Padilla has consistently slammed President Trump and Senate Republicans for rejecting Democrats’ bill to avert a government shutdown and also protect health care coverage for millions of Americans. Last month, Senator Padilla joined California health care leaders in Los Angeles to call on congressional Republicans to work with Democrats to protect health care coverage for nearly 2 million California residents and avoid a Republican-caused government shutdown. In July, Padilla blasted Senate Republicans’ passage of their tax bill that will kick 15 million Americans off their health care, shutter rural hospital across the country, gut critical programs, and explode the debt by over $3.5 trillion.

Californians and Americans across the country are facing the largest health insurance premium increases in 15 years and rising costs as a result of President Trump’s chaotic tariffs and catastrophic economic agenda, but Republicans are refusing to extend essential Affordable Care Act tax credits before they expire at the end of the year. These credits helped a record 24 million Americans enroll in Affordable Care Act exchanges this year.

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