UPDATE: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced today that House Democrats will overwhelmingly vote against a Republican plan aimed at temporarily reopening the government, which is now in its 42nd day of shutdown. This decision comes as Senate Democrats split from their party to advance a spending bill that fails to extend crucial Affordable Care Act healthcare subsidies, a move that could drastically increase costs for millions of Americans.
During a press conference earlier today, Jeffries stated, “It will be unaffordable for working-class Americans, middle-class Americans, and everyday Americans to go see a doctor when they need one.” The Senate approved the spending package with a 60-40 vote late Sunday, signaling potential momentum for the bill as it heads to the House of Representatives for a vote as early as Wednesday.
The proposed legislation would fund federal operations through at least January 20, 2026, but lacks the vital ACA subsidy extensions that Democrats insist are necessary to protect healthcare access. If these subsidies expire, millions could see their premiums double or triple, raising significant alarm among lawmakers.
“As House Democrats, we know we’re on the right side of this fight, the right side of the American people,” Jeffries emphasized.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-L.A.) is pushing to expedite the vote, but many Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman of Brooklyn, argue that the deal falls short. Goldman stated that the GOP’s approach represents a failure to negotiate a bipartisan solution, saying, “We must hold firm for the millions of people who will lose their health care due to the Republicans’ healthcare crisis.”
U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez also voiced her opposition, calling the proposed agreement a “betrayal” that compromises the health of countless Americans. “Americans are counting on Democrats to stand up for them, not give in,” she declared on social media.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has reportedly agreed to a future vote on ACA subsidies in December, a concession that some Senate Democrats feel could bring relief to constituents suffering under the shutdown. However, the uncertainty surrounding this promise has further fueled opposition from House Democrats.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a resident of Park Slope, voted against the package and criticized the GOP for their handling of healthcare issues. “Republicans now own this healthcare crisis; they knew it was coming,” Schumer stated on the Senate floor.
As tensions rise, Jeffries called for accountability, stating, “The fight is getting ready to shift back to the House, where we’re going to work hard, hold Republicans accountable.” The urgency of this situation has intensified as lawmakers scramble to address both the government shutdown and the looming healthcare crisis.
With Democrats firmly opposing the current proposal, the next steps will be crucial. All eyes will be on how House Republicans respond and whether they can muster enough support to push the bill through despite unified Democratic resistance.
Stay tuned for further updates as this rapidly developing situation unfolds.
