Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is keeping the government closed out of "plain stupidity" over his fears of losing a primary challenge in New York to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., insisted on Newsmax Tuesday.
"Chuck Schumer, in his infinite stupidity, shut down the government," said Alford on "Wake Up America."
He pointed out that the House Appropriations Committee got all 12 bills to the House floor, with three already passed.
"All we were asking for was a simple extension of seven weeks to get the remaining nine bills done," he said. "We wanted a clean extension, a clean continuing resolution, and we passed it and sent it over to the Senate Democrats."
The shutdown is "putting lives at risk," Alford added, pointing to a temporary shutdown of air traffic control in Burbank, California.
Alford also rejected claims from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., that Republicans caused a "healthcare crisis," telling Newsmax that Democrats — not Republicans — are responsible for the impending expiration of COVID-era premium tax credits that are set to end in December.
"If they wanted this to be a permanent program, they should have included it during the reconciliation process," he said. "The American people are seeing through the games that the Democrats are playing, and they are growing sick of it.
"Open the government. Tear down this wall, Chuck Schumer."
On calls from Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., to ban congressional paychecks during shutdowns, Alford said the immediate priority is reopening the government.
However, he predicted Democrats are stalling until Oct. 18, when a major march in Washington could help them politically. But he said Republicans must stay firm.
"The Democrats have dug themselves a hole," said Alford.
"They have no idea how to get out of this. Republicans, we have a fight ahead of us to get the message out there."
"We are doing this because we are in the right," he added.
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