I just got a letter from U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, that made me see red. He said that the government shut down because “Democrats blocked a straightforward measure.”

Well, I suppose the measure is straighforward, straighforward in ceasing the Affordable Care Act subsidies that allow 20 million people health care insurance. Straighforward in its gigantic cuts to Medicaid. By the way, half the children in the country get health care through Medicaid. And Republicans have been straighforward in telling the Democrats that, yes, they will vote to maintain current funding for the next several weeks but will then use the rescission process to cut programs Trump doesn’t like, one by one. Programs like Medicaid, food assistance, education, safe food and water.

He even wants to cut the water infrastructure budget by 90%. This includes revoking funding to replace lead drinking water pipes! You read that right: the richest country in the world still has lead pipes! Anybody remember the Flint water crisis?

The government shut down because Republicans — the “pro-life” party — refuses to pass a budget that protects health care, food for poor children and clean, safe water for all. This rests squarely on Republican shoulders.

Not surprisingly, Jack Bergman speaks with deliberate (ambiguity) on this issue.

Katie Olsson

Rapid River