Caught in the chaos: Rep. Kaptur back in D.C. to reopen gov’t

Time to end 'manufactured' mayhem; Congresswoman says many will die if they are denied health insurance

TOLEDO — U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur is making an urgent, unplanned trip back to Washington D.C. for a critical vote to end the government shutdown, a process she blames squarely on “chaos” created by leadership in both chambers of Congress.

Kaptur, in an interview with StayTunedSandusky.com earlier this week, said she’s been in Washington a lot since the shutdown and even during House Speaker Johnson’s House shutdown, with committee work. Congress needs to get back to the work of the people, she said.

Listen to the full interview here:

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Frustration with leadership

Speaking from her Toledo district, the long-serving Ohio Democrat expressed deep disappointment over the political impasse, arguing that it nullifies the hard work done by bipartisan committees. The old 9th District and the one approved by state lawmakers Oct. 31 includes Erie County and Sandusky. But the new 9th District drawn up by leaders removed Sandusky County and added Putnam and Paulding counties near the Ohio-Indiana border, making it more Republican.

Congress not working is powerfully disruptive, she said. Kaptur, who serves on the powerful Appropriations Committee, said foundational legislative bills that fund the government were ready months ago. She said the chaos is manufactured, not necessary.

“We work, nobody sees our work, because we work in our committee rooms on a bipartisan basis to produce bills. And we had those bills ready for months, so it’s been very disappointing to me to see the leadership in both chambers create this chaos in the country when those of us who work so hard to avoid it... are caught up in it then.”

Health care logjam

The primary cause of the ongoing logjam, according to Kaptur, is the battle over health insurance affordability, which she calls a “major speed bump in American history.” She issued a dire warning about the human cost of failure, especially concerning the Affordable Care Act subsidies.

Kaptur talks