Feds Feel the Heat, but Obamacare Premiums Take Center Stage as Shutdown Drags On.
In the third week of a government shutdown that's been dragging on for weeks, the Trump administration is ramping up pressure on federal workers to cave under the pain they're feeling - hoping it'll motivate Democrats to compromise and reopen the government. But Democrats aren't backing down, arguing that skyrocketing Obamacare premiums pose a far greater threat.
"We want to prevent a bad thing from happening," said Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), whose district is home to over 40,000 federal workers. "We're not going to let people suddenly have huge spikes in healthcare costs, lose their insurance, and wish we'd fought harder." In many cases, the premiums will more than double as a result of expiring subsidies.
The situation has become increasingly dire for these workers, with over 700,000 being furloughed and nearly 4,000 having been laid off since the shutdown began. But Democrats say they're willing to take on the pain now if it means avoiding the long-term consequences of allowing those premiums to skyrocket - a scenario that could leave millions of Americans without access to healthcare.
"We have no choice but to confront the health care crisis and the government shutdown crisis at the same time," said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD). The administration has refused to extend the subsidies, leaving Democrats in a difficult spot. "The temporary pain of a shutdown pales in comparison to the permanent pain of insurance premiums doubling."
Meanwhile, the White House is warning that more than 10,000 federal jobs could be cut during the impasse - with the potential for up to double that number if Congress fails to act.
For many Democrats, the issue isn't just about the immediate consequences of the shutdown but about standing firm against what they see as a partisan attempt to punish them for not giving in on healthcare. "This is not a blue state issue; it's just that Democrats happen to care about saving health care," said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).
As the standoff continues, with no clear end in sight, one thing's clear: Democrats are determined to fight for what they see as their top priority - the future of healthcare for millions of Americans.
In the third week of a government shutdown that's been dragging on for weeks, the Trump administration is ramping up pressure on federal workers to cave under the pain they're feeling - hoping it'll motivate Democrats to compromise and reopen the government. But Democrats aren't backing down, arguing that skyrocketing Obamacare premiums pose a far greater threat.
"We want to prevent a bad thing from happening," said Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), whose district is home to over 40,000 federal workers. "We're not going to let people suddenly have huge spikes in healthcare costs, lose their insurance, and wish we'd fought harder." In many cases, the premiums will more than double as a result of expiring subsidies.
The situation has become increasingly dire for these workers, with over 700,000 being furloughed and nearly 4,000 having been laid off since the shutdown began. But Democrats say they're willing to take on the pain now if it means avoiding the long-term consequences of allowing those premiums to skyrocket - a scenario that could leave millions of Americans without access to healthcare.
"We have no choice but to confront the health care crisis and the government shutdown crisis at the same time," said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD). The administration has refused to extend the subsidies, leaving Democrats in a difficult spot. "The temporary pain of a shutdown pales in comparison to the permanent pain of insurance premiums doubling."
Meanwhile, the White House is warning that more than 10,000 federal jobs could be cut during the impasse - with the potential for up to double that number if Congress fails to act.
For many Democrats, the issue isn't just about the immediate consequences of the shutdown but about standing firm against what they see as a partisan attempt to punish them for not giving in on healthcare. "This is not a blue state issue; it's just that Democrats happen to care about saving health care," said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).
As the standoff continues, with no clear end in sight, one thing's clear: Democrats are determined to fight for what they see as their top priority - the future of healthcare for millions of Americans.
it's like, what's the real cost of a shutdown, anyway? Is it just a bunch of politicians playing politics or is it about keeping people healthy? I mean, what happens when those premiums go up, huh? Are they going to be able to afford it? Do they even know how much their healthcare bills are going to increase? It's like, we're so caught up in the drama and the fear-mongering that we forget there are real people behind these numbers 
. We need to remember that at the end of the day, this isn't just about Democrats or Republicans, it's about human lives 
.
and it's not just about the feds, it's about the people 
who are losing access to health care 
because of expiring subsidies 
... the premiums are going to be a disaster 
especially for those with pre-existing conditions 
... Democrats are trying to stand firm 
but it's hard when you're facing a partisan pushback 
... 
the thought of 10,000+ jobs being cut is terrifying 
They're worried about 10k jobs getting cut but who cares when people are gonna lose their insurance?! It's like, you gotta put a price on human lives, right? 
If I were a dem, I'd take a hard stance too and risk losing my job. The temporary pain of a shutdown is nothing compared to the permanent damage of losing healthcare 
, over 700k people affected? It's just not right. And the White House is still being all dramatic about job cuts, like 10k or double that number? Come on 
.
. I mean, come on, it's basic economics 101 - a government shutdown is bad for business and employment. But no, instead of finding a compromise, they're just piling on more drama and making everyone suffer 
It's not temporary! If those subsidies expire, it's gonna be a huge problem for people who can't afford healthcare. Like, Pramila Jayapal said it best - this isn't just about healthcare, it's about people's lives 
.
shutdown is a mess ... think ppl r more concerned about losing insurance & paying double premiums than getting paid 
They're already feeling the heat, but it's not just about them 
It's about millions of Americans who could lose access to healthcare if premiums double 
The temporary pain of a shutdown shouldn't outweigh the permanent consequences 
. The White House is all talk and no action 
, and it's time for Congress to step up and do the right thing 
.
and it's not just about federal workers feeling the burn, obamacare premiums are literally going to make or break people's lives 
meanwhile, 10k+ jobs on the line? that's just gross 
I'm so worried about those 700k+ furloughed workers and nearly 4000 who got laid off 
. This shutdown is taking a toll on their mental health and stability 
. Meanwhile, the White House is threatening even more cuts, which would be devastating for those already affected 
. We need to think about the ripple effects and make decisions that benefit everyone in the end 
. We need politicians who care about people, not just about winning elections 
.
. We need to get our government back on track and focus on what really matters: helping people 
millions of americans r gonna lose access to healthcare if these subsidies expire... we need a solution ASAP! 
️
. And what's up with these sudden spikes in premiums? It's like they're trying to break the system 
. Can't we just get back to making healthcare work for everyone, instead of playing games?