Chuck Schumer Refuses Three Times to Rule Out Another Government Shutdown in January

Schumer: “Yes?”

reporter: “Leader Schumer, you mentioned January 1st. There’s also a January 30th deadline to fund the government. Do you have any expectation that Democrats might tie that to ACA like you did last time to try to get a result?”

Schumer: “Look, as I said — just as I said, it’s on the Republicans that we haven’t had health care done. After January 1st, it’s very, very hard to put it back in the bottle. Go ahead, Manu, I will get to you.”

RAJU: “I appreciate it. Will you then vote to shut the government down on January 30th if you don’t get an extension of the ACA subsidies?”

Schumer: “As I said, the bottom line is very simple, and that is that the way to solve this problem, because the toothpaste is already out of the tube, is get it done by January 1st. The Republicans, if they care so much and feel the heat, they should make sure we get — they pass our bill. Yes?”

PERGRAM: That doesn’t sound like you’ve arrived on a strategy for how to handle January 30th. So, is that in play, yes or no? The health care issue, the same as it was in the government shutdown this fall.”

Schumer: “I answered the question.”

PERGRAM: “But that doesn’t sound clear, though.”

Schumer: “The bottom line is very clear. You can’t — you can’t do it after January 1st, especially when the issues of hide and all these people. It’s — it’s expired already. It’s not the same as it was before. Once it expires, the toothpaste is out of the tube.”