U.S. Rep. Bishop lambastes Republicans for ‘refusing to negotiate’ amid shutdown
As the federal government shutdown drags into a fourth week, U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop Jr. (GA-02), visited Columbus, along with other Georgia cities, to voice the Democrats’ case about protecting healthcare.
The shutdown began Oct. 1, affecting federal government workers’ paychecks, public services and putting assistance programs, including recipients of SNAP benefits, at risk.
Congress has failed multiple times to pass a funding bill as Republicans refuse to give in to Democrats’ demands to extend enhanced tax credits under the Affordable Care Act.
Bishop took time in Thursday’s news conference at the Veterans Memorial in Woodruff Riverfront Park to lambaste Republicans for their part in failed negotiations in funding the federal government.
“Today is Day 23 of the government shutdown,” Bishop said during the news conference. “Once again, House and Senate Republicans would rather shut down the federal government than protect affordable healthcare coverage for the American people.”
Republicans have attempted to repeal or weaken the ACA 70 times since 2013, he said, and the ending the enhanced tax credits would hurt 24 million people who don’t get healthcare benefits from their employers.
Georgians in the 2nd Congressional District, which includes part of Columbus, could see premiums nearly double during this year’s open enrollment, Bishop said.
Dr. Karen Kinsell, a primary care physician in Clay County, joined Bishop during the news conference to speak in support of the Democratic Party’s efforts to protect the ACA’s tax credits.
Her experience in Clay County, which she describes as one of the poorest counties in Georgia, encouraged her to speak out on this issue.
“For many years, I was the only doctor in the county,” Kinsell said. “I’ve seen what happens when people can’t afford to go to the doctor. The tax credits and the Affordable Care Act have literally been a lifeline for many of my patients in the past.”
Liz Ernst, the Georgia director for Protect Our Care, also was in attendance, speaking about how not funding the tax credits could negatively impact Georgia residents.
By not extending the tax credits, Ernst said, people in the Chattahoochee Valley may have to pay more a year or lose their coverage altogether.
“It means fewer options, longer drives and local clinics closing,” Ernst said. “This isn’t abstract. This isn’t just happening somewhere else. This is happening here.”
‘Refusing to negotiate’
President Donald Trump said he would be willing to negotiate about health care after the shutdown is over, according to reporting by the Associated Press, but Republicans haven’t indicated they are willing to compromise before then.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has refused to call the U.S. House of Representatives into session since Sept. 19, Bishop said.
“Republican leadership in both the House and the Senate are refusing to negotiate with Democrats,” he said.
As worries loom that the prolonged shutdown could result in SNAP benefits not being paid out in November, Bishop said he and his colleagues are calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to utilize a $5 billion reserve fund that meant for situation like these. They also are asking the department to use $3 billion from a different fund in the department to meet the required $8 billion to fund the program.
“Nutrition is essential to life,” he said. “So, we will do everything in our power to see that the SNAP benefits are not discontinued or cut off because of the shutdown.”
This story was originally published October 23, 2025 at 4:05 PM.
