As a government employee, I’m certainly eager to see the shutdown end.  But even more importantly, I’m a progressive, and I’m incensed by the hostage-taking of the budget and the appropriations process by the President and the Republicans.

Health care was the only item on the table – and all Democrats have now is a “promise and a hope” that there will be a vote on the health care ACA subsidies in mid-December. This is not a guarantee and Democrats should have no illusions about Republicans making good on this so-called promise.

It’s especially galling today as I reflect on last week’s Crooked Con panel discussions in DC. I was inspired and hopeful with the discussions amongst the moderators, pundits, and the Representatives and Senators who were in attendance.  Many talked about “holding the line” and standing up for the working and middle class voters they represent.  Affordability and cost-of-living, along with the rising costs for health care are two top priorities for many constituents.  We had an election last week that ushered in a Democratic Socialist as mayor of New York City; Democrats taking two governorships in Virginia and New Jersey; and Democrats breaking the Republican supermajority in the Mississippi State Legislature, taking two Republican-held seats. Last night’s cave-in by eight moderates does not move the country forward towards any sort of accounting for the majority of the population struggling to pay bills, put food on the table, and afford basic healthcare services. And it certainly doesn’t reflect the sentiment of a growing number of Americans who wanted the Democrats to hold out and stop the expiration of the ACA tax credits – a primary subsidy for many to afford healthcare not covered by employer or Medicaid. Apparently these people don’t matter.

What will happen if the ACA tax credits expire:

1. The expiration of the ACA tax credits will lead to a 75% increase in out-of-pocket premium payments for enrollees. 
2. Low-income and older enrollees will likely see the largest increases in premium payments.
3. States that did not expand Medicaid will also see some of the most significant premium increases.   Let me remind you that many of these states are red, with a large turnout for Republicans and Trump.
4. With the expiration of the expanded tax credits, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates by 2034 there will be an increase of approximately 4.2 million people without healthcare coverage.

A note of interest to those who have heard that ACA credits need to end because undocumented immigrants are taking advantage of the program, please see the CBO’s estimated baseline projection numbers. The requirements for enrollees to take advantage of the ACA expanded tax credits include:

• They must not be eligible for public coverage, such as Medicaid; 
• They must not have an affordable offer of employment-based coverage;
• They must be lawfully present in the United States; and
• Their household income must generally fall between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). 

The cave-in is a mistake and one the Democrats can’t afford. Especially now.

– K