Summary
- Sen.
Joni Ernst criticized Democrats for shutdown crisis. - Called
Chuck Schumer’s shutdown “selfish” with major costs. - Highlighted
impact on servicemembers, rural airports, taxpayer money.
They spoke at Ernst’s tenth and last “Roast and
Ride” fundraiser in Des Moines, which has previously included GOP
presidential hopefuls and consists of an annual motorcycle ride and pig roast.
Democrats have called on Republicans to reverse Medicaid
cuts and modifications earlier this year and to agree to prolong tax credits
that help people pay for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act
marketplace.
Republicans hold control of the Senate, the White House, and
the House of Representatives, but they require support from a few Senate
Democrats in order to continue receiving federal funding.
In honor of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Ernst
dubbed it the “Schumer shutdown.”
“He shut down the government to appease the far left,”
she
said.
“His pointless political games have come at a price.”
Ernst said Democrats should vote to continue government
funding first and find health insurance solutions later.
“I am hopeful we get the government open, we actually have
serious talks about fraud and waste within the program, and then how do we
actually make a difference and make health care affordable for those folks that
truly do need that support?”
she said.
Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said Republicans are
treating the shutdown like a vacation.
“Why can’t Iowa’s representatives show some Iowa work ethic
instead of spending the weekend at Joni Ernst’s Republican fundraiser?”
she
asked.
“They should be working with their Republican colleagues to find a deal
to open the government and prevent a spike in Iowans’ health care premiums.
Don’t they think Iowans are paying attention?”
This year, the event raised money for the Blue Star Mothers
of Iowa and was paid for by a super PAC called Mission Iowa.
Ernst also responded to the news that President Donald Trump
intended to pay members of the military while other federal government
employees are not getting paid. She said all federal workers should be paid,
but troops should be paid first.
“I have got experience with this, having served as a
battalion commander when we went through a shutdown years ago. You know, we
really had issues in keeping up the readiness for our national service,”
Ernst
said.
“…It’s a little different when you are a young enlisted soldier and you
make next to nothing in the first place.”
Second District Rep. Ashley Hinson is running to be the
Republican nominee for Senate. She said the government shutdown is hurting
veterans, seniors, troops and border patrol agents. And Hinson said Democrats
are asking to increase government spending by $1.5 trillion.
“That is not a negotiation in my mind, that’s a ransom
note,”
she said.
“And we are not going to be held hostage by Chuck Schumer and the
radical left.”
Ernst was questioned about whether she intended to
officially support Hinson to take her place. “And you may hear something
more official a little bit later on,” she remarked, adding that she fully
supports Hinson.
Joshua Smith and Jim Carlin, a former state senator, are
also vying for the Republican Senate nomination.
Thomas Laehn, the attorney for Greene County, is running as
a Libertarian.
Former state lawmaker Bob Krause, state senator Zach Wahls,
former state representative Richard Sherzan, state representative Josh Turek,
Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Director Nathan Sage, and Jackie Norris, chair of
the Des Moines School Board, are the six Democrats vying for the Senate.
What specific funding demands are Democrats making in this
shutdown?
Democrats want to continue the enhanced premium tax credits
initially established as COVID-19 relief measures. These subsidies help about
24 million people afford health insurance through the Affordable Care Act
exchanges. If these subsidies expire, millions would face sharply increased
premiums, potentially causing up to 4 million people to forego coverage.
Democrats demand rolling back changes to Medicaid enacted in
the GOP’s major reconciliation package earlier in 2025, which the Congressional
Budget Office projected could cause 10 million people to lose coverage.
Some states have already started reducing Medicaid
reimbursements to providers.
