WASHINGTON (Gray DC) – With the help of a handful of Senate Democrats who broke ranks, the end the 43-day federal government shutdown ended Wednesday night. President Donald Trump signed the legislation officially reopening the government.
“I want to also thank the eight Senate Democrats who finally did the right thing in voting to end this craziness, this madness,” Trump said.
As part of the deal that reopened the government, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) committed to having a vote in the Senate by Dec. 16 on whether to extend expiring subsidies for insurance premiums purchased under the Affordable Care Act, a key sticking point during budget negotiations.
Trump criticized the current system and called for changes to how health care subsidies are distributed.
“It’s a disaster. And I’m calling today for insurance companies not to be paid, but for the money, this massive amount of money to be paid directly to the people of our country so that they can buy their own health care, which will be far better and far less expensive than the disaster known as Obamacare,” Trump said.
The president has not offered details on how Americans can purchase better and cheaper health insurance. More than 20 million Americans get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, and without those federal subsidies, insurance premiums will skyrocket.
While Congressional Democrats appear united in pushing for a subsidy extension, there is division among Republicans.
Most Republican lawmakers in Congress oppose virtually all elements of the Affordable Care Act, but a number of more moderate Republicans are urging their leaders to extend the subsidies. Millions of their own constituents will face much higher health costs if those subsidies are not extended.
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