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.