LOS ANGELES (OC).–President Donald Trump gave his approval to the 60-vote Senate bill that reopens the federal government after a 40-day shutdown that watched Democrats and Republicans play a dangerous game of chicken, refusing to blink first. But for all the bravado on both sides, Democrats didn’t hesitate to take the knives out on the eight Democrats who agreed with Republicans that it was time to end the shutdown. Calls for Senate Chuck Schumer ‘s (D-N.Y) head rang through the chamber, even though he wasn’t one of the senators so-called defecting to the Republican side. Imagine that Democrats, led by Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), led the rebellions against Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill that cut $1.5 trillion out of Medicaid and Obamacare subsidies, potentially upending 95 million Americans dependent on government subsidized health care.
Democrats raised Cain especially with their turncoat colleagues exposes for all to see that the government shutdown was, in fact, caused by Democrats attempting to blackmail the GOP into restoring $1.5 trillion in Medicaid funding and Obamacare subsidies. While there’s nothing wrong with fighting for health care funding, there’s a way to do it without tanking the U.S. economy, impacting by the thousands of flight delays and cancellations due to shortage of air traffic controllers and Transportation Security. When budget squabbles occur on Capitol Hill, they’re usually resolved by a continuing budget resolution [CR] something Democrats refused to sign unless Republicans agreed to restore $1.5 trillion in lost Medicaid funding and Obamacare subsidies. Republicans haven’t faced the adverse economic consequences from cutting Medicaid funding.
Government spending on health care is the best place to spend taxpayer dollars because it employs large numbers of health care workers. Cutting Medicaid funds and Obamacare subsidies harms the health care industry and economy, already shedding jobs in many other industries. Health care jobs are usually a bright spot in any economic cycle, with the industry continuing to crank out copious numbers of jobs. When White House OMD Director Russell Vought crunched the numbers for Trump’s July 1 Big Beautiful Bill, he didn’t consider the damage he’d do to the economy, let along hurting millions of families dependent on government subsidized health care. Republicans like to complain about Obamacare but there’s hasn’t been a better way to provide health insurance for millions of Americans previously uninsured, unable to get insured because of pre-existing conditions.
Whatever the future holds, Democrats are already holding House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to a promise to open up the budget debate on Medicaid and Obamacare subsidies to avoid another collision like the last one. Today’s bill with 60 votes gives both sides three months, to Jan. 30, 2026, breathing room but actually extends SNAP benefits and essential government workers, like air traffic controllers, until Sept. 26, 2026. Johnson didn’t say he wouldn’t open debate about lost Medicaid and Obamacare subsidies, he only said he couldn’t make any guarantees. Over 40-day shutdown, Democrats accomplished a lot of damage to the Republican Party, essentially blaming them for the health care crisis. Schumer now says that Republicans own the health care crisis where some 25 million Obamacare subscribers could be harmed by rising premiums.
Schumer has done nothing to deserve the wrath of progressive Democrats other than the politics behind Schumer 2026 reelection. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wants his Senate seat, so progressives have used the shutdown to call for Schumer’s resignation. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stands squarely behind Schumer, saying he led a “gallant” sven-week fight for health care. Schumer was the one that made health care the next great debate for Democrats to wage in the 2026 Midterm elections. Jeffries disagrees with progressive like Calif. Rep. Ro Khana who called for Schumer to step down. With over 2,000 flights cancelled and 6,000 delays today, what were responsible leaders supposed to do: Let the air traffic control system to crater? With the economy teetering on recession, any major problems in holiday air traffic would harm the U.S. economy.
Progressive Democrats need to stop playing politics and get back to basic governing with the government reopened. While Medicaid funding and Obamacre subsidies are not restored yet, Republicans certainly know where things are heading. Schumer said it right when he said Republicans now own the health care crisis, giving Democrats a strong tailwind heading into the Midterm elections. Republicans must show they can lead through compromise, not stubbornly insist on a budget that wrecks the government subsidized health care industry. Today’s economy doesn’t need another jolt now or in the future. With unemployment ticking up, pulling the rug out from underneath the Medicaid industry would be a big mistake. Republicans will be given time to show they can negotiate to correct as mistake in the Big Beautiful Bill. If they negotiate in good faith, voters may notice.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlneColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
