Blue Press Journal

Tag: government shutdown

  • Democrats Dig In: Party Insists Withholding Votes on Continuing Resolution Can Force Republicans to Extend Obamacare Subsidies

    Blue Press Journal – In a high-stakes game of political brinksmanship, the Democratic Party is refusing to back down from its insistence that withholding their votes from a continuing resolution in the Senate can pressure Republicans into extending Obamacare subsidies. With health care costs for millions of Americans set to spike if the subsidies are not restored, Democrats believe they have a strong hand to play in the ongoing budget negotiations.

    The party’s strategy is based on the premise that voters will ultimately blame Republicans for any government shutdown, and that the Democratic demand for health care subsidies is seen as a reasonable and necessary measure to protect the well-being of millions of Americans. Polling data appears to support this reading, with a recent NPR/PBS/Marist Poll finding that 38% of Americans would blame Republicans for a shutdown, compared to 27% who would blame Democrats.

    The Democratic ask is straightforward: extend the Obamacare subsidies that were taken out of the budget by the BBB Bill, or face the consequences of a government shutdown. As Jesse Ferguson, a veteran Democratic strategist, put it, “Republicans have backed themselves into a corner where they demand to end tax credits for health insurance costs or else they’re shutting down the government. People won’t buy it. Their ransom note reads: ‘Higher bills or closed doors — pick one.’”

    The stakes are high, with the Kaiser Family Foundation estimating that out-of-pocket costs for Obamacare enrollees could increase by as much as 114% if the subsidies are not extended. This would have a devastating impact on millions of Americans who rely on the Affordable Care Act for their health care needs, many in red states. Democrats are counting on the pressure growing on Republicans as notices about premium hikes hit constituents’ inboxes, making it increasingly difficult for the GOP to maintain its hardline stance.

    However, despite the Democratic Party’s confidence in its strategy, there are concerns that the law may not effectively prevent the Trump administration from enacting subsidy cuts. The administration has a history of ignoring legal norms, and the conservative U.S. Supreme Court often supports its actions. As one Democratic aide noted, “We don’t believe the law is meaningfully holding back Vought or Trump from enacting cuts. So, what has been stopping Vought before? Politics.”

    This is crucial, as it suggests that the Democratic strategy involves not just the law but the politics at play. By withholding their votes on the resolution, Democrats aim to create urgency that will push Republicans to rethink their stance. They also seek to highlight the human impact of the GOP’s position, portraying it as callous and disconnected from everyday Americans’ needs.

    The early polling on a shutdown supports the Democratic reading of the situation. The NPR/PBS/Marist Poll found that 38% of Americans would blame Republicans for a shutdown, while 27% would blame Democrats, and 31% would blame both parties equally. A late September survey from Blueprint, a Democratic group, found an even bigger advantage for Democrats, with 50% of registered voters blaming Republicans and 34% blaming Democrats.

    These numbers suggest that the Democratic strategy is about winning public opinion, not just legislative victories. By framing the issue as a choice between higher health care costs and a government shutdown, Democrats aim to create moral urgency that resonates with voters. As Ferguson noted, “People won’t buy the Republican argument that they’re shutting down the government over a matter of principle. They’ll see it for what it is: a cynical attempt to hurt millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet.”

    The Democratic insistence on withholding their votes from the continuing resolution may be seen as a brave and necessary step to protect the well-being of millions of Americans from high insurance costs. By standing firm and refusing to back down, Democrats are sending a clear message that they will not be intimidated or swayed by Republican tactics. They are also highlighting the human impact of the Republican stance, and making the case that the GOP is out of touch with the needs of ordinary Americans.

    As the deadline for a government shutdown approaches, the Democratic Party is fully committed to protecting the health care needs of millions of Americans. Whether this strategy will succeed is uncertain, but the budget battle and the future of Obamacare will be a defining moment in American politics with significant consequences for the country.

  • Federal Workers Union Denounces White House Threat of Mass Firings as “Political Games”

    Blue Press Journal – The largest federal workers union has spoken out against the White House’s threat of mass firings in the event of a government shutdown next week, calling it a desperate attempt to distract from the reality of the situation. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a memo on Wednesday, instructing federal agencies to prepare for mass layoffs if the government shuts down on October 1. However, the union argues that this threat is nothing more than a political ploy to shift the blame away from the Republican Party’s inability to pass a funding bill without Democratic support.

    According to the memo, agencies should consider firing workers involved in programs that are not funded by other laws, such as the GOP’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), and that are “not consistent with the president’s priorities.” However, the Democratic Party has proposed a plan to keep the government running through October 31, which includes reversing Medicaid cuts and extending Affordable Care Act subsidies.

    Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has denounced the OMB’s memo as “an attempt at intimidation” and argued that the mass firings threatened by the OMB would not stand up in court. “Donald Trump has been firing federal workers since day one—not to govern, but to scare,” said Schumer. “This is nothing new and has nothing to do with funding the government. These unnecessary firings will either be overturned in court or the administration will end up hiring the workers back, just like they did as recently as today.”

    The federal workers union agrees with Schumer’s assessment, stating that the White House’s threat of mass firings is a clear attempt to distract from the fact that the Republican Party needs Democratic support to pass its funding bill. The union argues that the GOP must agree to reverse massive healthcare cuts in order to get Democratic support, and that the threat of mass firings is simply a negotiating tactic.

    As the deadline for a government shutdown approaches, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold. However, the federal workers union will continue fighting against the White House’s attempts to intimidate and distract from the real issues. As Schumer said, “This is nothing new and has nothing to do with funding the government.” The American people deserve a government that works for them, not against them.