WASHINGTON — Despite a government shutdown shuttering many operations in the U.S. Capitol, Democratic leaders and the progressive political action group Americans United for Change still held a celebration on Tuesday for the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid praised the health care law, whose insurance exchanges went into effect Tuesday, while condemning efforts of the GOP to try to defund it.
“While we are sad they have shuttered the doors of America’s government, they cannot diminish our enthusiasm for the history we are making today,” Pelosi said. “Over a million people have called in today, and the day is still young.”
What was supposed to be a festive event turned into a political bout of Republican-bashing.
“Today should be about how far our nation has come. Never have so few done so much to hurt so many,” said Lee Saunders, president of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. “(Republicans) don’t want to negotiate, they want to dictate. They don’t want a solution, they want a standoff.”
Reid quoted President Ronald Reagan, a Republican, dismissing Medicare, then noted that the criticism didn’t stop the law from remaining in effect. He went on to lambast the GOP for trying to stop the health care “law of the land.”
“Why can’t these Republicans just get a life?” Reid said.
Pelosi said there is no stopping the ACA from going forward, but Democrats will keep trying to get government back to normal.
“We will work together and reach out and try to get the government going again,” Pelosi said.