What Do Democrats and Republicans Want in Government Shutdown Dispute?

Contact Your Elected Officials

Democrats say they’re protecting health care subsidies, which Republicans say would restore loopholes that let illegal immigrants access taxpayer-funded care.

Partisan deadlock on Capitol Hill has triggered a government shutdown, with Democrats conditioning their support for a stopgap funding bill on health care provisions they say are essential to protecting Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies.

Meanwhile, Republicans say that the Democratic plan would once again open the door to billions of taxpayer dollars flowing to illegal immigrants and other non-citizens.

At the heart of the dispute is whether to keep or repeal provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act and the Working Families Tax Cut Act (WFTCA), signed into law in July, which Republicans said will ensure Medicaid, Medicare, and ACA subsidies are reserved for citizens and lawful residents.

What Do Democrats and Republicans Want?

With Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress, Democrats lack the numbers to pass legislation outright, but they retain leverage in the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to advance a spending bill. They are using that leverage to push for continued ACA subsidies and to roll back OBBB/WFTCA provisions enacted in July that they say unfairly target immigrants and low-income households.

Democrats want to make permanent the enhanced ACA subsidies that are set to expire at year’s end, saying that millions of Americans could face sharp premium hikes without them. They also want to prevent the Trump administration from using executive actions to sideline or suspend the ACA provisions.

But their proposal goes further. Section 2141 of the Democratic version of the continuing resolution (CR)—or stopgap funding bill—would scrap parts of the July law that cut off many non-citizens from federally funded health programs, including some who entered the United States illegally.

Democrats describe this as restoring the pre-July status quo and deny any intent to expand federally funded health care to people who are in the United States unlawfully. Republicans call it a deliberate attempt to direct federal health care dollars to illegal immigrants.

While federal law bars illegal immigrants from Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP, and ACA subsidies, Republicans say that repealing the July reforms would reopen loopholes—through asylum, parole, and state schemes—that had effectively extended federal benefits to people in the United States unlawfully.

Republicans say they are open to considering a fix for the expiring ACA tax breaks, but they say the issue should be handled separately. They are backing a straightforward stopgap spending bill with no “riders” that was passed by the House and would fund the government through Nov. 21 at the existing spending level before the shutdown. It does not include any changes to ACA subsidies.

By Tom Ozimek

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

If Federal Food Assistance Programs End, Theft Begins

Many patriotic Americans well versed in American History have...

Tucker EN FUEGO: Taking Stock of MAGA, Ten Years on

Draining of the Swamp has yet to come anything close to fruition, as the creatures that populate said Swamp yet cling bitterly to power.

Tylenol’s Headache

When President Trump, RFK Jr., and Dr. Mehmet Oz called for pregnant women to avoid using acetaminophen, Tylenol got the headache.

American Restaurants Are Going Broke

U.S. restaurant bankruptcies surged to 22% in 2020 amid COVID-19 and stayed elevated at 14% last year due to Biden’s “Build Back Better” policy.

A Few Fun Alternatives to the”Gory Stuff” at Halloween

Halloween has gone off the rails with gore through the decades.  But there are ways to enjoy the "scary stuff" without giving into darker, pagan alliances.  

Federal Judge Strikes Down Biden-Era HHS Transgender Care Rule

A federal judge struck down a Biden-era rule extending federal health care anti-discrimination protections to individuals seeking transgender-related treatment.

US Sending Carrier Strike Group to Latin America, Pentagon Says

The Pentagon on Friday announced the deployment of an aircraft carrier to Latin America to target drug trafficking organizations.

Garland, Wray Among Officials Who Signed Off on ‘Arctic Frost’ Probe Targeting Conservatives

Former AG Garland and ex-FBI Director Wray approved the “Arctic Frost” probe targeting top conservatives, Senate records reveal.

FBI Confirms 10 Missing Children, Teens Rescued in Hawaii Joint Operation

State and federal authorities announced on Thursday that an operation in Hawaii resulted in the rescue of 10 missing children and teens earlier this month.

Trump Terminates Trade Negotiations With Canada Over Anti-Tariffs Ad Featuring Reagan

President Trump is terminating all trade negotiations with Canada over a TV ad campaign sponsored by the provincial govt. of Ontario opposing U.S. tariffs.

Trump Pardons Convicted Binance Founder Changpeng Zhao, White House Confirms

Trump pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, convicted of money laundering two years ago while leading the global cryptocurrency exchange.

Trump Calls off Meeting With Putin, White House Says

White House says Secretary Rubio and Russia’s Lavrov had a productive call; no further meetings or Trump-Putin talks are planned soon.

President Signs Rare Earth Agreement With Australia’s PM

President Trump hosted Australian PM Albanese at the White House, where both leaders signed a new agreement on rare earth mineral cooperation.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central