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"Hello? Is this the Trump administration?
Yes, Americans would like their government open."
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Yep, that's me, cowboy boots and all – on Day 30 of President Trump and Republicans' government shutdown. You're probably wondering why I look like that.
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So, friend, before I ask you to chip in toward my $30,000 mid-month goal ahead of the can't-miss deadline this Saturday, allow me to explain:
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See, long before any of this happened, I was a deciding vote to pass the Affordable Care Act – because health care is a human right.
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That's why I and other Senate Democrats sounded the alarm for months about how the Affordable Care Act tax credits were set to expire in 2026. We knew the GOP's failure to act would lead to health premiums doubling, tripling or quadrupling for roughly 225,000 working Coloradans and tens of millions more folks across the country, and we made sure they knew too.
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So on Sept. 30, when their bill to fund the government still didn't include a plan to stop working families' premiums from skyrocketing, I voted NO, hoping that we would work out a bipartisan deal.
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Fast-forward to Oct. 30 – when this photo was taken – and the government was still shut down. Senate Republicans still refused to come to the table. Meanwhile:
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- Around 900,000 federal employees were placed on furlough,
- About 2 million more federal employees, and active-duty troops, were working without pay – as Speaker Mike Johnson extended the House’s paid vacation week after week,
- Airports across the country were facing mass delays,
- Regular folks were already seeing their premium estimates for 2026 go through the stratosphere, and
- Trump was threatening to starve millions of kids until he got his way.
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So on day 40 of the shutdown, I voted against the Republican bill to open the government.
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Because I won't support a plan that failed to keep lifesaving health care in reach for so many people in Colorado.
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As the next governor of our state, I am committed to making health care more affordable. But to keep that promise, I first need your help to reach my $30,000 mid-month goal by midnight this Saturday.
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So please, friend – if you're able to spare a few bucks, or anything, will you please chip in to my campaign right away?
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If you've saved payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately:
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Thank you for everything,
Michael
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