Vice President JD Vance said on Oct. 12 that waste and fraud plague the health care tax credits at the center of a congressional funding impasse that led to the ongoing government shutdown.
Democrats have sought to add an extension of health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act—former President Barack Obama’s health care law, also called Obamacare—into a stopgap measure meant to keep the government funded. But Republicans have refused to discuss it, or any other policy, until the government reopens, noting that the subsidies will not expire until the end of this year.
“The tax credits go to some people deservedly, and we think the tax credits actually go to a lot of waste and fraud within the insurance industry,” Vance told CBS News’s “Face the Nation“ on Oct. 12. ”We want to make sure that the tax credits go to the people who need them.”
Neither Democrats nor Republicans in the Senate have moved on their positions, with both blaming the other party for the ongoing shutdown.
The shutdown began in the early morning hours on Oct. 1 after a stopgap measure to continue funding the government failed in the Senate. Multiple bills to reopen the government have failed since.
Vance said on Oct. 12 that there is “a lot of willingness” among moderate Democrats and that the administration is willing to make compromises. However, he said “far left Democrats” are holding the government funding hostage.
“[Those individuals are] going to shut down the government and refuse to open up the government unless they get everything they want,” Vance said.
“That’s not a negotiation. That’s a hostage taking, and we’re not going to reward that kind of behavior from Washington, D.C.”
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), meanwhile, said in Senate floor remarks on Oct. 9 that his party’s position on health care subsidies is not intractable and that higher health care premiums could be the result if the subsidies are not extended.
“Republicans have chosen to shut down the government rather than work with us to defuse the ticking time bomb that will blow up health care for millions of Americans,” Schumer said in a video released last week on X. “Congressional Democrats are on the side of the American people, and together, we will fight to make this right.”
Tensions regarding the shutdown escalated last week after a top Trump administration official confirmed that government layoffs had started. In a post on X on Oct. 10, White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought said the reductions-in-force have begun, while court papers filed in a lawsuit by the Justice Department indicated that about 4,100 people were laid off so far across several agencies.
In a separate interview, Vance told Fox News on Oct. 12 that more federal layoffs would be initiated as the shutdown continues.
“The longer this goes on, the deeper the cuts are going to be,” the vice president said on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures.”
“To be clear, some of these cuts are going to be painful. This is not a situation that we relish. This is not something that we’re looking forward to.”
President Donald Trump and Vought have warned that they would carry out mass layoffs, continuing a trend that began with the establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency. In the months before the ongoing shutdown, the administration also launched efforts to lay off some federal employees or offer buyouts to have them resign.
Reprinted with permission from The Epoch Times by Jack Phillips.
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.
From the get-go, they never intended anything to be affordable with the Affordable Care Act aka 0bamacare which actually started off as Hillarycare that originally got shelved by the Democrats themselves until Mr. Elections Have Consequences was selected.
It’s termed the “Schumer Shutdown” for a clear reason — the Senate rules say there are to be 60 votes to approve the Continuing Resolution [CR]; Republicans have less than 60 members to vote. The Demoncraps (yes, I said it) are voting against it — something they voted for (13) times while Joetato (yes, it is a fact) was the POTUS.
Gaslighting the drone Sheeple of the DemonCraptastic Party doesn’t make what Schmucky Upchucky Schumer says “true” — it is actually “a lie.”
I think if the average American taxpayer knew exactly how much each state had been spending on illegals, they’d blow a gasket. The state gets money form the feds, THEN they fund their own Medicaid/Medical whatever, so its actually the STATE government funding the illegals, but they are doing it with tax money from the entire country’s pockets! Oregon spent 43 MILLION on just illegals on Medicaid in 2023!!! Multiple that x 45 or so states, then add the BILLIONS that CA spends on illegals…people do NOT realize just how much we spend on non-citizens who came here illegally.
To the many who have felt the steady increase in insurance premiums, higher deductibles,less coverage or no coverage in some instances? Who do you think this affects? Low income, on the income edge of coverage?
Those who are citizens? Or those who are illegals?
Those who could work, and pay their portion of coverages?
It’s passed along that the illegals don’t get coverages.
They don’t get Medicaid, Medicare.
Ding ding!!
The illegals do get covered,hospitals are required to accept EVERYONE regardless of coverage.
Then the government steps in to pick up the shortfalls such as this.
There are ” Emergency ” Coverages,for those who can work,but choose not to do so.
To the illegals.
Those that are employed,sometimes more than one job,the millions of Seniors who are on Medicare.
They worked their whole lives bought a home, raised a family and then retire to relax,enjoy.
They end up unable to receive any coverage free,it’s premiums and the above ( top).
Because they may own a home, because they were responsible, worked their asses off- they may end up technically poor.(under 25,000 or not much more.
Many investments sucked, medical, medication costs soared.
Pretty picture,hmm?
Democrats wonder why their stupid ideas are not wanted,why they are not liked.
It has nothing to do with race,religion, ethnic background.
Greed,selfishness, power and hypocrisy are the reasons they are disliked or in some cases hated.
My opinion and I could care less what others think,you are entitled to your opinion,as I mine.
CUT HC fraud all the way going thru Plan D bureaucracy for simple eye drops from local RX, & prescribed end this BS.
Poor communication with MDs for drug issues with pharmacy must be addressed