LEVERETT, Mass. (WWLP) – Congressman Jim McGovern attended a town hall in Leverett, organized by the community group ‘Leverett Together,’ to address concerns about the ongoing government shutdown.
The town hall was held in response to the government shutdown, which has become the third longest in history. Congressman McGovern discussed the potential impact of not extending certain tax benefits, which could lead to significant increases in healthcare costs.
“If congress doesn’t extend some of these tax benefits…people’s health care bills are going to go up double or triple,” said Representative Jim McGovern.
The government shutdown is nearing 20 days with no resolution in sight, and recent efforts to pass a bill in the Senate have failed.
Community members at the town hall expressed their concerns about the effects of the shutdown and other issues under the Trump administration. Some attendees, including those employed at UMASS Amherst, voiced worries about cuts to research funding and the decrease in international student enrollment.
Community members expressed concerns about potential cuts affecting international students at local universities.
Others were concerned about the potential impact on green energy businesses, fearing job losses and business closures.
Joan Snowdon expressed concerns about the impact of the government shutdown on local businesses and the community.
The next Senate vote to reopen the government is scheduled for Monday, leaving the community and Congressman McGovern hopeful for a resolution. “I’m showing up to work in Washington every week. Ready to get together, not only to reopen the government but to protect people’s healthcare,” McGovern assured attendees.
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All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WWLP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WWLP staff before being published.
Nicole Buddie
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