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Rep. Roger Williams: Shutdown is blocking SBA lending; won’t back extension of ACA subsidies
Summary
On a recorded interview, Rep. Roger Williams said a continuing resolution should be passed without extending Affordable Care Act subsidies, and warned that the shutdown has closed the SBA and is preventing millions in small-business loans from reaching Main Street.
Republican U.S. Representative Roger Williams of Texas’s 25th District told host Brandon that he supports a "clean CR" to reopen the federal government and will not vote to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies. "I'm not gonna vote for Obamacare," Williams said, adding, "My district doesn't want me to vote for Obamacare." He blamed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for the shutdown, saying Schumer has "taken Main Street America" hostage.
Williams said the shutdown is already affecting small businesses in his district and nationwide because the Small Business Administration is closed. "We got millions of dollars out there ready to be alone to small business to get in business, stay in business, need payroll. They're unable to do that," he said. Williams identified small businesses as vital to the economy, saying they generate "75% of workforce and payroll." He also cited recent legislative changes he described as supporting business growth, including raising the maximum on manufacturing loans "from 5 to 10,000,000," permanent tax cuts, reduced regulations and "100% expensing."
Asked what that means in practice, Williams said higher loan limits will "allow businesses to expand and hire more people," and that reduced regulatory burdens will enable community banks to resume lending. On regulation he criticized the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, calling it "a disaster," and said cutting regulatory pressure will help community banks make loans to small businesses.
Williams framed his position as both political and constituent-driven: he said he backed a clean continuing resolution and did not want to accept policy riders to reopen the government. He described the choice as delaying policy debate until after the government reopens: "we need to keep the government open and talk about it after we get the government open." The interview did not record any formal congressional votes or new legislation passed during the conversation.
Williams concluded by saying economic measures such as lower interest rates and the policies he supported will expand hiring and tax receipts once the government reopens. The interview closed with no immediate policy change announced; Williams reiterated he will not support extending ACA subsidies as part of any short-term funding deal.
