Commentary: Straight Talk with Sam

U.S. Rep. Sam Graves R-Missouri

Dear Friend,

“Every day gets better for us.” That is the offensive comment that Senator Chuck Schumer had to say when he was asked about his government shutdown. “Every day gets better for us.”

Who does he mean by “us?”

Does he mean the thousands of air traffic controllers, Border Patrol agents, and other essential government employees still working to keep us safe — uncertain if their next paycheck will get here in time to feed their families?

How about American seniors having difficulty getting the help they need with the Social Security and Medicare benefits they’ve earned?

Or the millions of new mothers worried about whether they can continue to depend on the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program to feed their newborn children? The same program that only has funding now because President Trump took extraordinary action to use revenues from tariffs — which Senator Schumer strongly opposes — to keep that program funded temporarily.

Maybe he means the millions of American servicemembers — you know, the brave men and women who put their lives on the line every single day to keep us safe — who won’t be paid next Wednesday because of his antics.

Senator Schumer might be right that the news coverage gets “better every day” for him, but things aren’t getting “better every day” for American families. Things are getting worse.

And for what? More health care benefits for illegal immigrants?

It doesn’t have to be this way. The House passed a clean bill to keep the government open, continue paying our troops and maintain these vital services three whole weeks ago. Congress passed similar bills 13 times under President Biden. There’s no reason we can’t do the same now.

It’s time for Senator Schumer to stop playing political games and start doing what’s right for the American people. Things aren’t getting “better every day” for us.

Sincerely,

Sam Graves