Congressman Vern Buchanan — who lives on the Sarasota County side of Longboat Key — blames Democrats for forcing a federal government shutdown, arguing that calls for affordable Obamacare plans are actually a step in the wrong direction.
Democrats in Congress have taken a hardline stance against temporary proposals made by House Republicans to extend government funding until Nov. 21 without enhanced health insurance subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans. The subsidies have helped millions of Americans afford health insurance premiums, but are set to end at the end of the year unless they are extended by the federal government.
Democrats argue that the lapse in subsidies increase health insurance costs significantly and reduce access to medical care. They also seek reversal of recent cuts to Medicaid, which is a public health insurance program for low-income individuals and their families.
“Democrats are holding Congress hostage and demanding hundreds of billions of dollars in health care benefits for illegal immigrants, including an extension of premium tax credits that the Congressional Budget Office found were improperly claimed by 2.3 million Obamacare enrollees,” Buchanan said in a statement.
Buchanan claims Obamacare subsidies help illegal immigrants, but Democrats say that is fake news
Buchanan, who represents Florida District 16 and serves as Vice Chairman for the Ways and Means Committee for the House of Representatives, claims that Democratic proposals miss the mark and will instead drive up premiums and continue coverage for illegal immigrants. The Ways and Means Committee is tasked with shaping affordable healthcare policy.
However, under current federal law illegal immigrants are ineligible for Obamacare subsidies and Medicaid benefits. Democratic proposals do not seek to change that, but instead seek to reverse provisions in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” that restrict eligibility for lawfully present immigrants, such as refugees, asylym seekers, and individuals with temporary protected status.
Democrats “are also demanding rollbacks of the Working Families Tax Cuts that made it illegal for noncitizens to receive federal health care dollars, changes that would raise premiums for American citizens,” he said. “Democrats are even trying to cut historic investments Republicans secured for rural health care the largest in our nation’s history meant to make care more affordable for patients.”
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said the Republican party is instead responsible for rising health care costs and shifts blame to their unwillingness to extend health care subsidies. She represents Florida District 25, and is the most tenured Democratic member of the Florida congressional delegation.
“Republicans are refusing to help Democrats prevent premiums from doubling for tens of millions of people, and to prevent kicking millions more off of their coverage,” Wasserman Schultz said in a statement. “No one buys Republican lies about immigrants — they are already prohibited under federal law to access Medicaid and Obamacare tax credits.”
“Republicans gutted Medicaid, now they’re willing to make healthcare coverage costs soar for millions of Americans, even if it means forcing troops and public servants to work without pay,” she said.
President Donald Trump joins Republicans, blames government shutdown on Democrats
Republicans argue that Congress should approve a funding bill without additional policy riders, claiming that affordable healthcare and Medicaid initiatives should instead be debated and voted upon independently of the federal spending bill.
President Donald Trump, unsurprisingly siding with Republicans in Congress, has threatened mass layoffs of government employees rather than the typical practice of furloughing workers during a government shutdown.
The last federal government shutdown occurred in December 2018 during Trump’s first term in office. At the time Trump sought appropriation of $5.7 billion for construction of a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. The government also shut down in January 2018 during his administration over differences over immigration policy.
Florida congressional delegates at odds over federal subsidies for affordable health care
Buchanan said that House Republicans are willing to negotiate long-term health care reforms, but emphasized fiscal responsibility and efforts that reduce deficits. He said the $1.5 trillion proposal made by Democrats is a step in the wrong direction that would instead drive up premiums for American families.
“As the representative of one of the oldest districts in the country I’m fighting to make care more affordable and accessible for seniors and families in my district,” Buchanan said. “That’s why it is essential we extend funding now and continue bipartisan work on lowering health care costs. This shutdown is the fault of Democrats who would rather hold the government hostage over wasteful spending than pass a nonpartisan seven-week funding extension.”
“I am more than willing to work across the aisle on long-term health care reforms and to have those conversations in good faith, but now is not the time for partisan games,” he said. “We need to pass a clean CR to give us the time to truly work through these negotiations.”
Wasserman Schultz said Republicans have the ability to end the government shutdown themselves by extending health care subsidies for affordable health care.
“While House Republicans are AWOL, canceling a second week of votes and refusing to join Democrats to prevent health care costs from skyrocketing,” Wasserman Schultz said. “Democrats continue to work to reopen our government and end this GOP healthcare crisis.”
“Floridians already pay too much for groceries, home insurance and utilities. They don’t need vacationing Republicans to lecture them on costs,” she said. “They need Republicans to join Democrats and get to work on ending this GOP healthcare crisis and reopen our government.”
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: ‘Democrats are holding Congress hostage,’ U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan says amid shutdown fight
Reporting by Jesse Mendoza, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
