The government shutdown lasted 40 days before Senate Democrats abandoned the filibuster that closed offices, left workers without paychecks, threatened supplemental food benefits for millions, saw the beginning of a gradual shutdown of the commercial aviation system, and much more. The question is: Why did those Democrats hold out for so long? Why did they stubbornly play a losing hand even as millions of Americans suffered?
The short answer: because Obamacare was at stake. The Affordable Care Act is the Democratic Party’s premier policy achievement of the last half-century, and it is gradually sinking beneath rising costs, making “affordable” health coverage increasingly unaffordable. Without more taxpayer-paid subsidies for recipients, fewer and fewer people will be able to purchase coverage that Democrats once promised would be within everyone’s reach.
So many Democrats have invested so much of their political identity in health care, and on their health care achievement – remember that Obamacare passed the Senate in 2010 without a single Republican vote – that the prospect of its failure is unthinkable for the Democratic Party.
This is what happened. Back in 2010, Obamacare was a compromise between those Democrats who wanted to create a national single-payer health care system and those who wanted a more market-based arrangement. But all Democrats agreed that the passage of the Affordable Care Act, which established taxpayer-paid subsidies with which millions of Americans could purchase health coverage, was the beginning of a program that would grow in the years to come.
The problem was, since Republicans unanimously opposed the system, any expansion of Obamacare or significant increase in its funding would have to come when Democrats controlled the House, Senate, and White House. That time did not come until early 2021, when President Joe Biden took office with a Democratic House and Senate. Together, they immediately passed a set of new subsidies on top of the subsidies that already existed in the Affordable Care Act law.
Democrats characterized their long-desired additional subsidies as an “emergency” measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. They would only last one year, expiring in 2022. But then, in 2022, Democrats renewed the additional subsidies – again, as an “emergency” measure – and extended them for three years, until Dec. 31, 2025.
In the meantime, Obamacare premium costs have gone up and up – an estimated 30% this year alone. So this was the situation Democrats faced: Even if the “emergency” subsidies were extended, millions of people would face big premium increases. And if the “emergency” subsidies were allowed to expire – and remember, in 2022, every single Democrat in the Senate voted for the subsidies to expire on Dec. 31, 2025 – then people who purchased coverage through Obamacare would face skyrocketing costs.
By the way, the Biden administration declared the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, 2023. Democrats extended the “emergency” additional subsidies until Dec. 31, 2025. Now, there is simply no “emergency” rationale for extending the additional subsidies.
But there is a political rationale, which is that the cost of Obamacare – contrary to Democrats’ predictions – is rising dramatically. Doing nothing – that is, not pumping more taxpayer-paid subsidies into the system – could risk fewer and fewer Americans being able to afford health coverage through Obamacare.
So Democrats decided to block funding of the entire government unless Republicans agreed to extend the additional “emergency” subsidies. Republicans, who proposed to keep the government funded first and then discuss any Democratic Obamacare proposal, said no. The House GOP passed a straight, no-tricks government funding proposal. Senate Democrats used the filibuster to block it for 40 days, until the pain of the government shutdown proved too much for a few Democratic senators.
The big picture of what is happening is the failure of the Affordable Care Act. Indeed, some Democrats have admitted that the reason they shut down the government was to hold out for more “emergency” subsidy money because the ACA has failed to make health coverage affordable. “I owe you an answer on why it is I’m standing here today, asking to extend something that was temporary,” Democratic Sen. Peter Welch said on the floor of the Senate a few days ago. “We did fail to bring down the cost of health care.”
For Senate Democrats, the only way to deal with that failure was to demand more taxpayer-paid premium subsidies to keep Obamacare afloat. Now, their shutdown has failed, and they will no doubt search for other ways to pump money into their struggling health care program.
Byron York is chief political correspondent for The Washington Examiner.
Reprinted with permission from cfif.org by Byron York.
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.
“”Why did the Democrats hold out so long?””
Everyone begins the discussion from 2010 with Obama.
It didn’t start at that time with that person.
It started 17 years before he got his hands on it with none other than Hillary Rodham Clinton.
They called it the Health Security Act back then and the Democrat Party themselves rejected it.
On paper, it was to appear as a vehicle to tackle the universal healthcare issues.
But, in reality, like anything that you can possibly imagine would come out of bowels of Camp Clinton, it was designed from the beginning to be a money laundering scheme between the major medical insurance companies and the nefarious political elites who would see to getting it signed into law while leaving, as usual, the taxpayers who would have to foot the bill on it.
Hillary didn’t count on her own party rejecting it. So, it was shelved until she would need it for political leverage when George Soros turned from her to Barack Huessin Obama for the go-ahead nod.
Hillary would not be done yet….not like this!
Everyone forgets that at some time late during Election Year 2008, she insisted that Barack and herself have a ‘no reporters present’ luncheon together and it was then that I believe that Hillary offered up Hillarycare along with her 18 million voting supporters in exchange for a position in Barack’s Cabinet-to-be.
Next thing after that luncheon of theirs that was announced, she was to become the Secy of State in his Cabinet.
“”Never let a good crisis go to waste!””, they say.
Currently, there is speculation about Obama receiving $2.5 million in annual kickbacks from Obamacare.
Since, she was the one who originally wrote it, I’d be willing to bet that if one were to follow the money trail well enough, she’ll be receiving some level of kickbacks as well.
In less than a month, Congress will go into its seasonal recess and will not be back until the third day into the next year.
They are already chest deep into the campaign and fundraising silly season for the 2026 Mid-terms. So, with that said, I wouldn’t expect much of anything concerning settling this healthcare nightmare to happen too soon, all originally caused by you know who.
ACA or Obama Care has never been affordable. Pelosi’s screamed pass the bill so we can find out what is in it. Your democrats way of governing. Put the cart before the horse. They do it with everything. People understood that Obamacare is unaffordable and subsidies are not helping because the subsidy comes from taxpayer money. The people were paying high premiums any way plus subsidy. ACA needs an overhaul. Not more subsidies. Like with everything the democrats propose, it never works and it bankrupts the country and its people. All we had under Obama was bank failures and mortgages bankrupting many people, under Biden we had inflation which is lasting till today. Because the democrats want control over the people. Stifling entrepreneurs and small businesses. Everything is made in China. They don’t like Made in America. Will we ever get affordable healthcare? Not as long as big Pharma is in the pockets of the democrats like Bernie Sanders, Pocahontas et al.
The DIMMs have long tried to institute government-run “healthcare” for all. It is all part of their socialist kick. They ignore facts like Britons and Canadians who have to wait MONTHS to see a dentist and end up pulling their own teeth rather than suffer! And when killing a human is called “healthcare,” you know you are dealing with crazies, demoniacs, or both!
Buy time, plant more plans to take Trump down, delay deny, distract
I believe the democrat party is really supporting the huge insurance companies that support their political compaigns. Or is this just another money laundering by the leadership in the democrat party? With the lower elements in the party, just agreeing with them, so that they do not get primaryed in the next election? So many questions as before we had a good program, The people who could not work, or was disabled, got care anyway, with ACA, most of us do not get the timely care we need.
Personally, I think it proved their true objective – if they’re ever back in power, they will replace our Constitutional Republic with socialism. They happily withheld SNAP benefits from the poor – as a test to see how well withholding food, other benefits will work to force people to continue to vote Democrat. It works in North Korea, they think they can make it work here. I pray more people saw just how desperate & disgusting their political temper tantrums are .
Democrats should have damn well know that the AHC Was never a good idea in the first place. If it hadn’t have been for the Socialist Leader of the House of Representatives despicable Nancy Pelosi and her ignoramus remark “We have to pass this so we can see what’s in it!
Got the Legislation pushed through the House of Representatives! Left to its own demise would have never have became the law in the United States! What an insane idea to pass that piece of junk
into law! What say you now Pelosi?
Why Did Democrats Fight So Long – Before Caving?
Simple answer, Desperation.
What else have they got?
Everything the Democrats do is wrong. Everything they touch they break. They are a walking disaster. If they spent as much time trying to do things that are useful instead of trying to cover up what they did wrong and blame it on Donald Trump, people might actually vote for them. But there are nothing but a walking disaster. Totally a party of victims and losers.
They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption, for you are a slave to whatever controls you. 2 Peter 2:19
Whoa! That the Demoncrats admitted they wanted to pour more money on the Obamacare’s sinking ship. That ship has sunk at the dock. Now, to deflect the blame for the failure of Obamacare they are yelling about the Epstein debacle. When will they ever learn to actually take the blame for their mistakes? When you have all those misfits actually holding office, representing people, what do you expect?
Good sense and honor for Democrat Sen. Welch to stand up and be truthful to a group that knows the truth but hates to acknowledge it……..no matter how many suffer as long as it is not them
When something is subsidized, it has already failed.
Now We the people have to “bend over” once again!
Why did the Democrats fight so long? Because they’re starting to see their web of corruption, deceit, and lies start to crumble. And the result is the people in this country are starting to wake up and the ultimate goal of the Democrats, which is total power over a Socialist United States, is beginning to look less and less likely.
We’re seeing how the Democrat’s litany of federal grants (thru the likes of USAID) that send money to NGOs and charities, which in turn kick back tax dollars into the Democrat political coffers is now being exposed. The direct evidence of the Obama and the Biden regimes creating false narratives used to weaponize the US government against anyone who is an enemy of the Democrats is coming forth. The level to which the Pravda Press has been colluding with the Democrats is on full display. The billions in foreign dark monies pouring into the Democrat coffers is starting to see daylight. And the list goes on… bribes from foreign countries to high level government positions, allowing and aiding the southern border invasion, assisting with human trafficking of illegals throughout the US, assisting the narco-terrorist kill our children, selling out the US to China…. and there’s more.
So why are they fighting? Because they are in a death spiral and these are their last ditch kicks of retaliation.
When the government is involved in any program, then that program is already a failed program. The government can’t do anything right.
Until the Democratic Party is eliminated, nothing in our Government is going to change. They have been engulfed and indoctrinated into COMMUNISM, and they obviously love that stance.
“…fight so long…?” As usual, Dems did “nothing” so long. All these politicians need replacement asap.
What many people don’t know is the cost of the filings that companies and even non-profits had to pay each year regarding Obamasnare. This took money away that might have helped their employees have lower health care costs. Non-profits had to take money that could be used for their mission to help others and instead it was wasted on a systematic government medical information gathering system.
Obama care and affordable health care act haven’t help working people or the price of care.
GOOD GRIEF, if people cannot read and understand what just happened due to the Biden AND Obama/Clinton administrations health-care give away to millions who are not even citizens in this country, then they are too uneducated to vote! This is how the Democrats operate……..they twist arms until you give up and they win. If you don’t give up, well then, they will find quite another convenient way to get rid of you. What a national travesty and I STILL wonder how many millions both of those rotten ex-presidents (and WIVES) walked away with as a pay-off from the health care industry. The real ultimatum was to not only destroy the economy by free give-aways, but it was to destroy the entire USA and then turn it into a CCP controlled country. Killary already had her Chinese Uniform ready and waiting in mothballs ever since she wore it when she was flaunting herself for “President”.
I also wonder why MRS. BIDEN was flying herself back and forth to Europe while bubble-head Joe was incapable of even declaring himself not fit for the job. Was she traveling with suitcases of money to deposit in Europe so they could flee the USA and live like the King and queen they thought they were. Oh, yes, and the Mrs. and Mrs. Clinton and the Mr. and Mr. Obama would be following right behind them with their suitcases of $$$ too. Sounds like a copy of the new 7th edition of a James Bond Movie script!
They do just enough damage at the right times it helped put people in place in sertain cities to move the agenda they want evil finds away to do it’s damage the devil is not dumb only way to defeat it is to turn back to the Lord God Almighty period
We the people will once again
”bend over”!!
DEMORATS HAVE BECOME A CANCER TO THIS NATION PERIOD
Don’t forget during the elections in Virginia and New Jersey the Dems had nothing else to do but go and vote. They were not at work!!!! Gov’t was shut down. The Dems were afraid of a small turnout. Dems did not care about fellow Americans only themselves.
Now you know why the Health Insurance companies never objected to Obamacare.
They would be receiving free taxpayer money.
Insurance is just Joey Bagodonuts walking uninvited into your house and saying, “Youse give me $100/month or I’ll burn your house down. We call it ‘fire insurance’.”
They are buying your fear, and then using that fear to jack up the prices.
When Joey made his bones, they gave him the name “Joey Fear” and now everybody sits in a chair working on a computer or watching TV and eats his donuts all day and pays him “health insurance” so they can afford a doctor when they get fat, sick, and crazy.
Welcome to “The Matrix”.
Obamacare tripled my health insurance payment.
Unfortunately Obama care has never been affordable. After paying higher and higher premiums I still can’t afford to go to the doctor or fill a prescription. Where I can go is limited. More and more doctors refuse to take Medicare insurances.
The Affordable Care Act was always anything but affordable. Why did our government think that a persons personal health care was in any need of their reform? Many people I know agree that when our government gets involved, or takes over anything, it is ruined. I view our USA health care as ruined from the day the ACA was passed and implemented. I just couldn’t believe that anyone would hold out over that horrible ACA, like the Democrats did. The ACA doesn’t need fixing! The ACA needs repealing, burying, and forgetting.
I call them dumbocRATs because their followers are dumb enough to believe whatever they are told.
The entire health care conversation is ridiculous. The poor, the unemployed and illegal immigrants have always gotten free health care in America. Undercover of the hypocratic oath … where an injured or ill person will not be turned away from a hospital emergency room. And everyone is fully aware of that fact.
Of course they will be billed after the fact, but they will either be unable to pay, or will refuse to pay. And who foots the bill? The persons with legitimate healthcare, with higher premiums.
I personally saw this … in 2006, having just acquired a new job, no insurance coverage for 90 days, I poked a hole in an artery. I went to the emergency room, waited for 7 hours, saw a doctor, and over an hour, she put one stitch in the artery and sent me to hospital finance. There I was told $1200 immediately, or I would be billed $2300. The doctor cost was separate … $300 for a stitch, with in 30 days, or $700 over time.
I was employed, so I paid, $1200 to sit in the emergency room for 7 hours, and $300 for one stitch. In lieu being billed $3000. If I was poor, unemployed, or an illegal immigrant, I would have been billed, denied payment, and someone would have had to pay the hospital and doctor … who? Private or employer paid healthcare in higher costs.
Obama Care was never affordable. Just built on lies, deception and imagination.
Because Republicans let them, that was a BIG Mistake!
The Dems will also get paid even though not at work, 2nd BIG Mistake! And when in Congress, all they do is more lawfare and more denigrating the President!
if the republicans and democrats could end the AMA and FDA near-monopolies for health care in America, it would give us all better and cheaper health care. For safety concerns, a panel could be set up that would closely inspect the research on health supplements.; interview MDs and other practitioners who have successfully treated certain health conditions with alternative methods – alternative to the medical practices today. The practices today rely too much on drugs and surgeries which often do more harm than good. (I have personal experience with that.)
End encouragement of industrial farming which robs our bodies of minerals, etc, etc
A book could be written about these topics; there is so much good research available today. It boils down to much more effective health care that is also much, much less expensive!
Solyndra was not enough, goodness of his heart was spread right across by affordable care act.
Ok, got it; so now what are these flag-wrapped, “conservative” republicans gonna do about “skyrocketing” Healthcare costs for the non-wealthy, regular old working/middleclass peasantry. I notice little mister Byron didn’t dare go there; if he did, it would be, “Let the free market dictate the winners and losers”. Yeah, we’ve heard that krap before, like from the ‘libertarians’ who sold out our industrial/ manufacturing infrastructure to Mao’s wonderful humanitarians in 2000…so everyone could go “learn how to code”…We need a dam American Revolution II to flush all the oligarchs, plutocrats, globalists and their congressional flunkies down the Forever Drain.