On radio this morning, Glenn spoke to Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) about his fight to defund the Affordable Care Act in the Senate. Sen. Cruz is joined by at least 11 other GOP Senators, including Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), in an effort to block a continuing resolution that would fund Obamacare. Such action could result in a government shutdown.
Glenn explained he last saw Sen. Cruz at the Christians United for Israel event in Washington D.C. last week, where both were speakers. “When he walked in, he looked a little haggard, a little tired,” Glenn said. “And he had been spending the day fighting with the Republicans; fighting with the people who are supposed to be on our side. But apparently, they are not on our side.”
“You know, I've been astonished and how many Republicans in Washington want a vote they can say, ‘Look, see I did the right thing but they don't want to actually succeed.’ And you know, we've got a moment of redemption…Where we actually can successfully defund Obamacare,” Sen. Cruz said. “We've got 63 days to do it. And the reason is, the continuing resolution, which funds the federal government, expires on September 30th.”
Sen. Cruz explained that “under no circumstances” would he vote for a continuing resolution that funds “even one single penny of Obamacare.” Despite the support of senators like Marco Rubio (R-FL), James Inhofe (R-OK), and John Thune (R-SD), the Republicans need 41 senators or 218 members of the House to stand up and refuse to fund the healthcare legislation. “We can shut it down in 63 days,” Sen. Cruz said.
“I want you to call your senator,” Glenn said. “The switchboard at the Capitol is 202-224-3121. Call the Capitol now and tell them, enough is enough. You do not fund universal healthcare. Do not fund it through the continuing resolution.”
Obamacare has become politically toxic, with approval ratings down and politicians on both sides of the aisle distancing themselves from the legislation, but Sen. Cruz believes members of Congress are still “scared” to support the defunding of Obamacare. “What I can tell you is there are a lot of Republicans in Washington who are scared,” he said. “They are scared of being beaten up politically.”
Sen. Cruz did provide a seemingly logical alternative for Republicans that would avoid a government shutdown. He suggested the House of Representatives start by passing a continuing resolution that funds the entire federal government, except Obamacare. The resolution would explicitly prohibit the funding of Obmamcare.
“The next step, we’ve seen this play before, is that Harry Reed and President Obama will scream at the top of their lungs, ‘The evil mean, nasty Republicans are trying to shut down the federal government,’” Sen. Cruz explained. “And that's when we need to respond and say, ‘No, we need to stand together and say no. We have voted to fund the federal government. We want to keep the federal government open. Why is president Obama threatening and trying to shut down the federal government, in order to force Obamacare down the people’s throats, particularly when it isn't working?’ If we stand together, that's how we win this fight. But right now, at this instant, we don't have enough Republicans standing together. We got 63 days to do that.”
Lately, it feels like the will and voice of the people goes unanswered in Washington, but Sen. Cruz insisted it will take an overwhelming response from constituents for other GOP senators to get onboard.
“What are the odds of this, what are the chances of this actually happening, Ted,” Glenn asked. “If I'm in my car or my truck I'm thinking to myself, ‘Why am I going to call? It’s not going do make a dam bit of difference anyway. They are all weasels.’ So what are the chances of this?”
“Well, it depends. If we use the traditional ‘please call’ model, the chances are zero. Listen, I can't win this fight. Mike Lee can't win this fight. Marco Rubio can't win this fight. No politician in Washington can win this fight… The votes are against us,” Sen. Cruz said candidly. “This is our last and best chance, I'm convinced, to stop it, which is why it all depends not on any politician, but on the American people rising up in a way we never seen before. That's what's got to happen.”
You can contact your senator by calling at Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and you can visit DontFundObamacare.com to sign the petition and tell Congress: Don’t Fund Obamcare.