Democratic support for a potential deal to reopen the government has crumbled because of deep mistrust among Senate Democrats over whether they can trust Trump to act in good faith to extend health insurance subsidies or to stop firing federal workers.
Senate Democrats on Thursday rejected an emerging proposal to reopen the government that would have linked a stopgap funding bill known as a continuing resolution to three full-year appropriations bills funding military construction, veterans’ affairs, the Department of Agriculture and the legislative branch.
Democratic senators discussed the proposal at lunch and concluded that it did not include strong enough assurances that Trump and the Republican-controlled House would renew enhanced health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that are due to expire in January.
It’s good to see that the opposition party is finally doing some opposing and clearly recognizing that the other side isn’t acting in good faith and will never act in good faith. The government shut down harms everyone, but it is tough medicine that is necessary to avoid the constant steamrollering that has happened again and again in the past. Sometimes you have to stand up and fight, even if it means taking a few bruises.