AFT President Randi Weingarten on Republicans’ Government Funding Bill

WASHINGTON—Statement of AFT President Randi Weingarten on the Republicans’ short-term government funding bill:

“While averting a government shutdown, this bill falls short of what the American people expect from their government. The Republicans failed to pass a long-term solution to fund the Children’s Health Insurance Program, threatening the healthcare of millions of children and making it impossible for states to figure out how to budget for this program next year. The Republicans failed to pass the Dream Act, jeopardizing the futures of 800,000 students, teachers, doctors, nurses, lawyers and other young people who played by the rules, did everything we told them to do and now face the threat of deportation. The Republicans failed to pass a disaster relief bill that adequately addresses the needs of Americans still recovering from this year’s hurricanes and natural disasters—especially in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, where the federal response has been woefully inadequate. And the Republicans failed to lift the arbitrary sequester caps that hamper investments in programs that help working families. While the Republicans passed a bill so they could get home for the holidays—the day after passing a tax bill to reward their donors and the rich—these priorities of the American people remain outstanding and demand swift action in January.”