||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP RICK LARSEN |||
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Larsen released the following statement after voting no on Republican legislation to drive up health care costs:
“This resolution to the government shutdown allows health care costs to skyrocket for 26,000 people I represent and rips health care away from 8,000 people I represent. Instead of fixing the Republican health care crisis, it fails to permanently extend Medicare telehealth flexibilities that seniors rely on, does nothing to roll back the Big Ugly Law’s devastating cuts to Medicaid and lets several Republican Senators enrich themselves with taxpayer dollars.
“Rising costs under the Trump administration are forcing people in Northwest Washington state to choose between going to the doctor, paying rent and feeding their kids. I will keep fighting alongside House Democrats to make health care accessible and affordable, and lower the cost of living for hardworking families.
“Now that the shutdown is ending, it is time to ensure air traffic controllers, aviation safety inspectors, TSA workers and all federal employees get the backpay they deserve as soon as possible. The President’s attack on air traffic controllers’ patriotism this week was unhinged — they deserve unconditional gratitude and compensation for the essential work they do to keep our skies safe. I am committed to rapidly unwinding the major disruptions the traveling public has been put through due to the Republican shutdown.”
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Folks, Rick Larsen is solidly AGAINST universal healthcare and pats himself on the back for supporting the wildly broken ACA, where we here in the district on the plan have no out-of-network coverage and are offered faux “plans” like Lifewise and Ambetter, who have been repeatedly sued for false claims, fake provider lists, and a plethora more. Ambetter, the only seemingly affordable plan left on there, has an entire list of urgent care providers in Skagit County that either a) don’t exist or b) don’t and won’t work with them. I had to drive to Seattle to get a specialist who’d actually take their insurance and the doctor vented how awful they were to work with. Rick Larsen in the meantime receives OVER 50% of his donations from billionaires and corporate PACs – including the genocide-supporting AIPAC, Bill Gates, big tech and the airline industry like Boeing and Southwest. Larsen has repeatedly refused to hold open town halls this year because he doesn’t want to be called out for funding genocide (his only one in Skagit this year was an “RSVP and we’ll tell you the location if we let you attend” to where it turned out to be a half-full gymnasium in Burlington where, same as in his virtual ‘town halls’, he and his staff cherry-pick softball questions and he BS’s everyone – of all political persuasions.
D2 deserves better. Please, let’s get an Independent voice out there to primary him in 2026 and say goodbye to Corporate Dems & Reps and say hello to ethical candidates who are not owned by donors, MAGA, or corporate interests. He is a former lobbyist who plays games with D2 constituents and doesn’t have the moral compass or concern to actually listen. We gotta do better, folks.
In response to Independent Skagitonian’s comment, I am also unhappy with Larsen. He is against Medicare for All, He is also against a Green New Deal, which as a longtime environmental educator and union member, I believe is crucial for a much-needed transition off fossil fuels and the creation of new jobs appropriate for the times we’re living in. It is very difficult to unseat an incumbent. But I agree that we should keep trying to identify progressive-minded candidates that have the qualities needed to reach out across our large and diverse district and who has a solid chance of getting into the “top two” with Larsen, so we can finally have a real discussion on critical issues.
Twenty years in congress is TOO LONG! Larson is a perfect example of why we absolutely must have congressional term limits. I don’t think he’s horrible, I just think he’s entrenched, contaminated and weak. Citizens are supposed to SERVE in congress, not make a career out of it!
TERM LIMITS: I suggest twelve years maximum service in Congress by law; six – two year terms for Reps and two – six year terms for Senators LIFETIME MAXIMUM. Put every congressman on the spot by forcing them to declare their position on term limits. The vast majority of citizens want term limits so why don’t we have them?
MONEY: Without meaningful campaign finance reform we will NEVER have a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Money DOES NOT equal free speech! Corporations ARE NOT citizens!
Want change? THROW THE BUMS OUT!