If you watched or listened to mainstream media during the government shutdown, you heard Democrats being asked why they wouldn’t reopen the government.
The Democrat must then give the traditional reporter a basic math lesson that explains that since Republicans are in charge of the House, Senate and White House, it is their responsibility to find a solution to the government shutdown.
PoliticusUSA news and opinions are 100% independent. Support us by becoming a subscriber.
Trump spent days trying to convince Senate Republicans to end the filibuster, so they could fund the government without Democratic votes. Senate Republicans refused.
After what was at least the 15th failed vote in the Senate to reopen the government based on President Mike Johnson’s clear response, Senate Democrats did something clever.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced:
After so many failed votes, it’s clear we need to try something different. What the Senate is doing is not working for either party and it is not working for the American people.
Democrats have said we must solve the health care crisis. But Republicans have repeatedly said they will not negotiate lower health care costs until the government reopens. So let’s find a way to honor both positions.
Democrats would like to see an end to this shutdown and we want to respect Leader Thune’s desire to only negotiate the ACA after the government reopens. Therefore, we would like to propose a simple proposal that would reopen the government and simultaneously extend the ACA premium tax credits, and then have the opportunity to begin negotiating longer-term solutions to health care costs. Let’s do all three.
Continue reading below to see what Democrats proposed and how Senate Republicans responded.