Booker: Trump Shutdown is a ‘Tsunami
- On October 5, 2018, the United States federal government entered a partial shutdown after Congress failed to pass funding legislation.
- Democrats sought to restore subsidies for the ACA and reverse Medicaid cuts, while Republicans insisted on a "clean" funding bill that would extend government funding through November without...
- Senator Booker, speaking on ABC News' "This Week" with Martha Raddatz on October 7, 2018, framed the shutdown as a "moment of health care crisis." He explicitly stated...
Government Shutdown of 2018: healthcare at the Center of standoff
What Happened?
On October 5, 2018, the United States federal government entered a partial shutdown after Congress failed to pass funding legislation. The core dispute centered on funding for President Donald Trump’s proposed wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. However, Senator Cory Booker, D-N.J., highlighted a parallel and critical issue: the potential impact on healthcare access and affordability due to Republican efforts to dismantle provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, and cut Medicaid funding.
Democrats sought to restore subsidies for the ACA and reverse Medicaid cuts, while Republicans insisted on a “clean” funding bill that would extend government funding through November without addressing these healthcare concerns. The shutdown began at midnight on October 5th, impacting several federal agencies.
Booker’s Concerns: A Healthcare crisis
Senator Booker, speaking on ABC News’ “This Week” with Martha Raddatz on October 7, 2018, framed the shutdown as a “moment of health care crisis.” He explicitly stated his disinterest in assigning blame, prioritizing instead the potential consequences for americans’ health insurance coverage and financial stability. ABC News reported on Booker’s statements, emphasizing his focus on the human cost of the political impasse.
Booker warned of increased mortality rates, overwhelmed hospitals, and the cessation of medical services, particularly in rural areas, attributing these potential outcomes to policies initiated under the Trump administration. He described the situation as a “tsunami” of negative consequences.
The Broader Context: ACA Subsidies and Medicaid Cuts
The Republican efforts to undermine the ACA involved attempts to eliminate cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments, which help lower-income individuals afford health insurance.These payments were crucial for stabilizing the ACA marketplaces. Without them, premiums rose significantly, making coverage less accessible. The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) provides detailed analysis of the CSR payments and their impact.
simultaneously, proposed cuts to Medicaid, a joint federal and state program providing healthcare to low-income individuals and families, threatened to reduce access to care for millions of americans. These cuts were part of broader Republican efforts to reduce federal spending. The Center on Budget and policy Priorities (CBPP) details the potential consequences of Medicaid cuts.
Timeline of the 2018 Shutdown
| Date | event |
|---|---|
| October 1, 2018 | government funding expires; shutdown begins due to lack of agreement on spending bills. |
| October 5, 2018 | Shutdown officially takes effect at midnight. |
| October 7, 2018 | Senator Cory Booker appears on ABC News’ “This week” raising concerns about healthcare impacts. |
| January 22,2018 | A short-term spending bill is passed,temporarily reopening the government. |
| Febuary 8, 2018 | The government shuts down again after a deal fails to pass. |
| February 9, 2018 | The Senate passes a bipartisan budget deal to end the shutdown. |
The shutdown ultimately lasted for three days, ending on February 9, 201