Democrats express disagreement with spending bill, indicating potential government shutdown looms
The US Congress finds itself in a standoff over a short-term spending bill, with Democrats criticizing the Republican-led proposal and expressing concerns about the impact on millions of Americans' health insurance premiums.
The bill, if passed, would keep federal agencies funded through November 21. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson has labelled it a 'clean, short-term continuing resolution,' while Democratic leaders have labelled it as a potential pathway to a government shutdown.
Democrats are under pressure from their base to stand up to President Trump and tackle the rising cost of health insurance. They have been requesting a meeting with their Republican counterparts to negotiate on the bill, but Republicans have reportedly refused to meet.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune prefers the Senate to take up the bill this week, but any bill will need some Democratic support, and it's unclear whether that will happen. Any bill needs help from at least seven Democrats in the Senate to overcome procedural hurdles and advance to a final vote.
The potential for skyrocketing health care premiums for millions of Americans is a major concern. Insurers have sent out notices in nearly every state proposing premium increases of as much as 50%. The bill does not address these concerns, and Democrats have stated that it does nothing to stop a looming healthcare crisis and allows Americans to face double-digit increases in their health insurance premiums.
The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the number of people without insurance would rise by 2.2 million in 2026, and by 3.7 million the following year, if Congress does not extend the enhanced tax credits. Enhanced subsidies, which many people use to buy insurance on the Affordable Care Act exchange, are set to expire.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries have been vocal about their concerns, issuing a joint statement saying that Republicans are steering the country towards a shutdown by refusing to work with Democrats. Schumer and Jeffries have emphasized the need to negotiate on the bill to tackle health insurance costs for millions of Americans.
Thune, however, has suggested that the Democrats might cause a shutdown, as indicated by their actions. He has also highlighted the bill's inclusion of an extra $88 million for boosting security for lawmakers, members of the Supreme Court, and the executive branch.
As the deadline approaches, the standoff between the two parties continues, with the future of the short-term spending bill and the health insurance subsidies for millions of Americans hanging in the balance. The House is expected to vote on the spending bill by Friday.
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