McCormick talks veterans, shutdown in Pennsylvania

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(The Center Square) - While visiting Harrisburg on Monday, U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick took questions on several issues, including the federal shutdown and its impact on Pennsylvanians.

McCormick was touring a facility that offers cutting-edge treatment programs to veterans suffering from neurological and psychiatric issues, just one of many groups feeling the effects of the government shutdown.

They’re also a group that has been singled out during political sparring between some of Pennsylvania’s congressional representatives.

The Center Square asked McCormick what he thought about recent comments from Republican Rep. Scott Perry, who's district spans across central Pennsylvania near the capitol city, disparaging Democrats who serve in the military.

“I think those that are willing to put themselves, their lives on the line for the military, I salute them,” said McCormick. He described the diversity in his platoon in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division serving in the Gulf War.

“I never remember, never, talking about religion and never remember talking about politics, never. I couldn’t have told you who was what. It was just about service to one another and service to the country,” he added. “I feel a huge obligation to do everything we can to make sure that we pay them back.”

While essential services including health care, crisis lines, burials and benefits payments are ongoing, Veterans Affairs is being squeezed by the shutdown. Call centers and regional offices are closed. Career transition and training programs are suspended, and several cemetery positions and functions are on hold.

On the topic of the shutdown, the senator was asked what a deal between congressional Democrats and Republicans might look like.

“I don’t think there is a deal,” said McCormick. “I mean, honestly, this is a pretty straightforward thing.”

McCormick emphasized that Republicans have voted consistently on continuing resolutions that would keep the government running, something he said could handle the basics while lawmakers continue to negotiate the potential extension of Affordable Care Act credits that were created during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The credits in question, advocates say, are essential to some 300,000 low-income Pennsylvanians who do not receive health benefits through employers and rely on them to afford health care through the state’s insurance marketplace.

McCormick pointed out that in some cases, people making “$500,000 or $600,000 a year” are receiving healthcare subsidies through the credits. Such situations occur because the subsidies cap plan contributions at 8.5% of total household income for those making 400% or more of the federal poverty level.

McCormick wouldn’t say whether he would support extending the credits without seeing the negotiations but that he was “worried” about the issue. He was critical of the Affordable Care Act more generally, calling it a “disaster.”

“It had three goals — lower costs, improve quality, and create more access,” said McCormick. “It’s failed on all three.”

Though McCormick pointed to Democrats with political motivations as the source of the government shutdown, he said he didn’t think it would serve Congress to forego the filibuster rule and move forward with a simple majority.

The senator linked himself once again to his Democratic counterpart, John Fetterman, who has diverged from others in his party on the shutdown.

“I believe it’s bad policy, no matter who’s in charge," he said.