Press Releases

WASHINGTON – House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) sounded the alarm after House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) openly admitted that Democrats are using families suffering as leverage during the government shutdown.

Yesterday, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark said in an interview, “Of course there will be families that are going to suffer... but it is one of the few leverage times we have.”

“Rep. Clark’s comments were shameful but revealing,” Chairwoman McClain said. “Democrats have now admitted what we’ve said all along — they’re deliberately using struggling families to advance a radical agenda that funds healthcare for illegals, promotes LGBT programs abroad, and wastes $1.5 trillion in reckless spending. Meanwhile, Republicans are doing the work — serving in food pantries, helping families, and fighting to reopen the government for everyone.”

Chairwoman McClain highlighted how Whip Clark is using her constituents as leverage —as well as Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey voting to shut down the government 12 times—is greatly hurting families in Massachusetts: 

SNAP Benefits at Risk:

• $240 million in monthly SNAP funding could dry up by November 1.

• 1.1 million residents in Massachusetts could lose their food stamps. 

• The Greater Boston Food Bank warns 175,000 residents could immediately lose assistance.

Federal Workers Unpaid:

• More than 45,000 federal employees across Massachusetts are working without pay.

Head Start in Jeopardy:

• Over 65,000 low-income children and infants rely on Head Start programs statewide, which depends on 80% federal funding.

Infrastructure Stalled:

• $1.72 billion in federal funds for the Cape Cod bridge replacement are frozen — part of $11 billion in halted projects across the state.

“What’s shocking isn’t just Clark’s words, it’s the Democrats’ pride in the pain they’re causing,” Chairwoman McClain added. “While Governor Maura Healey and Massachusetts Democrats try to blame President Trump, the reality is that Democrats are the ones standing in the way of reopening the government and stop the suffering of families in Massachusetts.”

In Democrats’ own words: 

• Rep. Katherine Clark, the #2 House Democrat: “There will be families that are going to suffer… but it is one of the few leverage times we have.”

• Sen. Chuck Schumer: “Every day gets better for us”

• Sen. Bernie Sanders: “[If] you reopen the government and we lose our leverage…”

• Sen. Martin Heinrich on reopening the government: “That just gives the President more leverage”

• Unnamed Democrat Senator: “People are going to get hammered” if they vote for the House-passed bill to reopen the government.

• Unnamed Democrat Senator: “We would have enough votes if people were not terrified of getting the guillotine.”

• Senior Democrat Aide: The party will not concede short of “planes falling out of the sky.”

• Senator Ruben Gallego: “If they screw us, then I’d just go back and shut it down again.”

• Source familiar on Sen. Ossoff’s thinking: “His calculus is, ‘Do I vote to open the government up and get crushed and can’t raise a single dollar of low-dollar money or do I vote to shut the government down and get $3 million [from online fundraising]?’”