Garamendi praises ‘No Kings Day’ participants and slams Donald Trump and Republicans 

Today, Congressman John Garamendi released the following statement ahead of “No Kings Day” after introducing a House Resolution condemning Donald Trump’s executive overreach and reaffirming Congress’s constitutional authority.

Garamendi also denounced President Trump’s so-called “Big Ugly Bill” and the ongoing government shutdown caused by House Republicans’ refusal to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies.

“From the very beginning of Donald Trump’s presidency, I said we must peacefully take to the streets and resist every dangerous, unconstitutional action from his administration. And today, everyone participating in ‘No Kings Day’ is doing just that,” Garamendi said.

“The President and members of Congress swear an oath to the Constitution, to a set of ideas bigger than ourselves. We promise to protect our constitutional freedoms. We are not swearing loyalty to one individual. We do not have kings in the United States of America.

“I’m proud to see so many of my constituents standing up, speaking out, and making their voices heard. This is what democracy looks like. Your persistence, energy, and commitment are the heartbeat of this movement.

“While Congress has been shut down, I’ve been back in Washington continuing to fight — to shine a light on Trump’s cruel, so-called ‘Big Ugly Bill’, which gives tax cuts to billionaires and big corporations by slashing funding for critical services like Medicaid, Social Security and even school lunch programs.

“I’ve also been working to expose the devastating impact of Trump’s decision to end the Affordable Care Act subsidies. In Solano and Contra Costa Counties, a family of four could pay an additional $16,600 per year for health care — a 210 percent increase. A 60-year-old couple could see premiums skyrocket by $26,484 per year — nearly an 800 percent increase.”

“That’s not just a number — it’s a family being forced to choose between paying the rent or seeing a doctor,” Garamendi said. “It’s parents skipping meals so their children can eat. It’s seniors deciding whether to fill a prescription or keep the lights on.”

“There is still a path forward,” he continued. “Republicans can come back to the table and work with us to reopen the government and lower health care costs. The choice is simple: they can govern for the American people — or continue to kowtow to Donald Trump.

“I will keep fighting every day to protect vital programs, uphold our Constitution, and defend the well-being of working families across this nation,” Garamendi concluded. “Together, we will resist — and our democracy will prevail.”

Click here to read the resolution.