Shutdown-ending vote reveals rift among Democrats

Some Democrats are left wondering why eight of their own caved on Sunday to end the government shutdown following major election victories. 

Sunday’s surprise deal to wind down the longest federal government shutdown in US history exposes the fractures between different factions of the Democratic Party. 

The move to reopen by seven Democrats and one Independent left some party officials and advocates particularly confused after securing major wins in last week’s elections. 

“ I just want say that last Tuesday after a lot of hard work by a lot of groups around the state and in this region, canvassing, talking to voters for months and months to get out the vote, we succeeded in giving the Democrats a huge victory,  and we are just surprised that they would give in so easily on this,” Vicki Miller, a leader with Philadelphia Indivisible, told reporters during a press conference on Monday. 

“ We gave [Democrats] a big victory, and they turned around and gave a victory to Trump, making the healthcare crisis worse and giving a big loss to all of the folks who have healthcare.”

While the deal guarantees SNAP and secures federal worker jobs, it leaves out a huge piece of the budget puzzle.

Senate Republicans promised Democrats a vote on the extension of the ACA tax credits next month, but it is not guaranteed that US House Republicans will support any such related bill or if President Donald Trump will sign one if it makes it to his desk.

After siding with Republicans throughout the 40-day federal government shutdown, US Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania), once again, finds himself stranded on an island among his Pennsylvania Democratic colleagues. 

“After 40 days as a consistent voice against shutting our government down, I voted YES for the 15th time to REOPEN,” Fetterman posted to X on Sunday. 

“I’m sorry to our military, SNAP recipients, gov workers, and Capitol Police who haven’t been paid in weeks. It should’ve never come to this.”

However, the expiration of ACA subsidies were the reason for the shutdown in the first place.

Fetterman, along with six other Democrats and one Independent, voted with US Senate Republicans. 

Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-Philadelphia), who co-chairs the US House Budget Committee, is urging Fetterman and US Sen. Dave McCormick to support extending the tax credits.  

“ This bill that does not in any way address the health care crisis and only includes a vague reference to a promise of a Senate vote a month from now is wholly insufficient to address the healthcare crisis facing the American people,” Boyle said.

Close to 500,000 Pennsylvanians purchase their health care through Pennie, the state’s official ACA marketplace, and advocates warn that as many as 250,000 Pennie customers could lose their health care due to rising premiums once these tax credits expire. 

“This is a problem that needs to be fixed now because we can’t wait until January,” Boyle added. “By then, it would’ve been too late. Enrollment is happening right now and the new policies take effect [on] January 1st.”