Senate Ends Shutdown; Sanders Criticizes Democratic GOP Vote
- * Government Shutdown Deal Reached (Potentially): A bipartisan agreement in the Senate appears to have been reached to reopen the government, avoiding a prolonged shutdown.
- In essence, the government may reopen, but a meaningful political battle over healthcare is still looming.
Here’s a summary of the key points from the provided text:
* Government Shutdown Deal Reached (Potentially): A bipartisan agreement in the Senate appears to have been reached to reopen the government, avoiding a prolonged shutdown. The deal funds some government programs immediately and extends funding for others until the end of January.
* Crucial Vote from Texas: The 60th vote needed to advance the deal is expected to come from a Senator from Texas.
* Democratic Opposition: Despite the deal, many Democrats are unhappy. Senator Schumer voted “no,” stating he couldn’t support the deal in good faith due to the lack of provisions addressing healthcare.Bernie Sanders and Chris Murphy also voiced strong opposition,arguing Democrats should hold firm on healthcare issues.
* Healthcare is the Sticking Point: The core disagreement revolves around extending Affordable care Act (ACA) tax credits that help lower health insurance costs. Republicans initially refused to negotiate on this, but have been quietly working with moderates.
* House Democrat Backlash: House Democrats are strongly criticizing the Senate deal, calling it a “betrayal” and “capitulation” as it doesn’t address healthcare costs. Leaders like Greg Casar and Angie Craig are particularly vocal in their disapproval.
* Future Healthcare Debate: The future of the ACA subsidies remains uncertain. A vote is planned in the Senate in December, but the House Speaker has not committed to taking up the issue. Some Republicans are open to extending the credits to avoid premium increases, but want concessions in return.
In essence, the government may reopen, but a meaningful political battle over healthcare is still looming. The deal is fragile and faces opposition from within the democratic party, particularly in the House.