Editorial Memo: Fighting for Health Care in the Government Spending Bill
Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans are driving the federal government toward an entirely avoidable shutdown on October 1.
As the fiscal year comes to a close, Republicans could come to the table to negotiate a bipartisan spending bill that ensures the government stays open and meets the needs of the American people.
Unfortunately, that is not the path that Republicans are pursuing, instead advancing an agenda that takes health care away from millions of Americans, defunds basic science and research for lifesaving treatments, and threatens rural hospitals and nursing homes – and, one that offers no assurances that Trump will spend the money Congress appropriates.
Americans need a bipartisan government funding bill that protects access to affordable health care and guarantees that Trump will not unilaterally and illegally refuse to spend Congressionally appropriated funds.
If Republicans refuse to negotiate, or insist on legislation that would enable the Trump Administration’s lawless abuse of our federal budget, then they are needlessly choosing to force a government shutdown.
| We urge you to editorialize in favor of a bipartisan funding bill that protects access to affordable health care and guarantees that Trump will not unilaterally and illegally refuse to spend Congressionally appropriated funds. |
Americans Need a Spending Bill That Protects Health Care
The Republican-passed tax and budget (“reconciliation”) bill has ripped away health care coverage, raised costs and cut access for millions in every state in the union.
As we approach open enrollment season, insurers are requesting their largest premium increases in years due to the GOP Budget Law. On average, premiums will increase by 75 percent for the nearly 25 million Affordable Care Act enrollees, with millions of Americans facing even higher increases.
Americans want their representatives in Congress to fight against health care cost increases. Whether it’s the ACA or rolling back Medicaid cuts from the reconciliation bill, Data for Progress found strong support for fighting to secure key health care priorities even at the risk of a government shutdown:
- 70% support for keeping rural hospitals open
- 68% support for protecting health care tax credits that lower premiums
- 65% support for funding scientific and medical research
- 55% support for stopping Medicaid cuts
Americans do not want to be – and should not be – subjected to a partisan Republican budget that continues to raise costs on working Americans by cutting health care and essential government services.
A Functional Shutdown is Already Here
Republicans in Congress are using the threat of a full government shutdown to scare Democrats into supporting the Republican budget for more cuts and higher prices for Americans.
To be clear, a shutdown would be enormously disruptive for Americans. But what is happening already is enormously disruptive. The Supreme Court has ruled that President Trump can fire federal employees without cause and OMB Director Vought is already illegally impounding funding approved by Congress and moving rescissions of appropriated funds wholesale. A government shutdown is never a good thing, and that’s why Vought’s unconstitutional scheme to systematically hollow out federal agencies from within, itself a de facto shutdown, has been so catastrophic. The damage is already being done. A functional shutdown and destruction of the federal government is happening right now.
End the Budgetary Lawlessness – A Deal Must Mean a Deal
The current administration has repeatedly demonstrated a disregard for Congress’s constitutional authority over federal spending laws. The Trump administration has illegally refused to spend more than $400 billion in appropriated funds.
Meanwhile, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, equipped with a permissive Supreme Court that may further enable budgetary violations, has every intention of accelerating this dynamic. Congress must reassert itself by including strict funding guardrails in spending bills.
Similarly, by voting for a partisan rescission package in July that withdrew already appropriated funding for public broadcasting and foreign aid, Congressional Republicans showed that they can’t be trusted to stand up for bipartisan funding agreements. No one would agree to the terms of a deal that can be reneged on as soon as the ink is dry. Any deal to fund the government must prohibit the ability to renege on the agreement with a party-line vote.
Senators and Members have begun to convey to the Trump Administration the importance of stopping lawlessness, illegal withholding of funds, and illegal use of funds to militarize our cities to grab people indiscriminately off the streets. Many have commented that there must be mechanisms in the bill to protect against the continuing illegal use or nonuse of government funding. It’s clear that these concerns must be addressed in a must-pass funding bill, about the only vehicle available to hold Trump accountable for illegal conduct.
The Trump Healthcare Shutdown is Here, Now
Republicans in Congress are using the threat of a full government shutdown to scare Democrats into supporting the Republican budget for more cuts, less healthcare and higher prices for Americans.
To be clear, a shutdown would be enormously disruptive for Americans. But what is happening already is enormously disruptive. OMB Director Vought is already illegally impounding funding approved by Congress and moving rescissions of appropriated funds wholesale. A government shutdown is never a good thing, and that’s why Vought’s unconstitutional scheme to systematically hollow out federal agencies from within, itself a de facto shutdown, has been so catastrophic. The damage is already being done.
Meanwhile, Trump and Republicans are racing to an avoidable shutdown by refusing even to negotiate with Democrats. Trump told Congressional Republicans they should not “even bother” to talk to Democrats about the government funding bill.
On September 19, House Republicans jammed through a one-party temporary spending bill. The Senate voted down that bill, which could not even garner a majority. A Democratic alternative – which would restore health care cuts and prevent Trump from illegally refusing to spend appropriated money – won majority support, but not enough to overcome a filibuster.
There is no reason for Republicans to refuse to negotiate a spending deal and no reason to force the government to shut down. Americans need the government funded and they need protection against Trump’s health care cuts. A bipartisan agreement should be reached quickly obtain these twin necessities.
Resources
- Go here to see how much more Americans in each state will pay for their health care if Republicans insist on raising health insurance premiums.
- Americans can calculate how much their premiums will increase here.
- Medicaid coverage losses by state. Cutting Medicaid will spike premiums by up to $500 a year for the 179 million Americans with employer-based coverage.
- Rural hospitals at risk of closing by state.
- Last month, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced he was canceling 22 vaccine research projects, totaling $500 million.