Late Thursday, Alabama’s Republican members of the House of Representatives issued a statement calling on Senate Democrats to allow passage of a continuing resolution that would reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding for six years and fund the federal government through February 16.
The joint statement from Reps. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville), Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville), Bradley Byrne (R-Fairhope), Gary Palmer (R-Hoover), Martha Roby (R-Montgomery) and Mike Rogers (R-Saks) deemed the Democratic obstruction effort “political games.”
.@SenSchumer: You really want to avoid a government shutdown? Then pass this bill to fund the government and reauthorize the #CHIP program. #SchumerShutdown
— Rep. Bradley Byrne (@RepByrne) January 19, 2018
“The House has acted to prevent a government shutdown and provide long-term funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Unfortunately, it seems Senate Democrats are intent on blocking the bill and forcing a government shutdown, all over an unrelated immigration issue. This action would be both irresponsible and reckless. We urge the Senate to stop playing political games, pass this funding bill, and deliver certainty to the over 85,000 Alabama families who depend on the CHIP program to provide for their children’s health care needs.”
Also according to the release, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa) will vote in favor of the bill. However, Mobile Fox 10’s Bob Grip says as of 9 p.m. local time Sen. Doug Jones (D-Mountain Brook) remains undecided.
How will @SenDougJones vote on the CR? His office tells me it will release a statement “when he makes that decision” #alpolitics
— Bob Grip (@Bob_Grip) January 19, 2018
Jeff Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and works as the editor of Breitbart TV. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeff_poor.