Democrats need to continue shutdown as long as it takes to get Obamacare subsidies

I’m not a fan of government shutdowns. Hardly anyone is.

But along with lots of other Democrats, I want my party to stand strong on not reopening the federal government until Trump and his fellow Republicans commit to an ironclad guarantee that expiring subsidies to the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, will be put into law for the next ten years at an estimated cost of $350 billion, or $35 billion a year.

That’s $5 billion less a year than the Trump administration just paid to prop up the Argentinian currency. In the big scheme of things, it isn’t much money. But it will go a long way toward helping tens of millions of Americans afford their health insurance premium.

Naturally there is room for compromise with Republicans. The amount of the subsidies could be reduced. The length of time they will last could be shorter. So long as the Trump administration is forced to distribute the subsidies, Democrats can negotiate with congressional Republicans and Trump.

Ordinarily I’d be almost as annoyed at Democrats shutting down the federal government in order to achieve a policy victory as I was when Republicans did this when they lacked the votes to do it on their own.

Here’s the thing though: these aren’t ordinary times.

Trump is running roughshod over our nation’s laws, norms, traditions, ethical standards, and sense of decency. He’s the first American president to flat-out desire to be an authoritarian. And not only desire, but use the full power of the presidency to make his dictatorial dream a reality.

Desperate times require desperate measures.

Last Tuesday’s elections, which strongly favored Democrats all across the country, showed that citizens are fed up with Trump’s destructive antics. They want Democrats to take a bold stand against Trump. If congressional Democrats surrender on the Affordable Care Act subsidies, there will be a massive blue wave of revulsion aimed at the party.

Yes, pain is being caused by the shutdown. Federal workers aren’t getting paid. Food stamp benefits are in jeopardy. Flights are being cancelled due to a shortage of air traffic controllers.

All that isn’t good.

However, it would be much worse if many millions of Americans lose their health insurance due to the end of Obamacare subsidies. That’s a life and death matter. Food banks can help feed hungry people if SNAP benefits are curtailed. But hospitals aren’t going to offer free surgeries to those unable to afford health insurance.

Democrats need to keep on communicating their strong truthful message: Republicans control the House, Senate, and Presidency; they could reopen the government if they wanted to, so this is a Republican shutdown.

Trump is saying that Senate Republicans should do away with the filibuster, then end the shutdown with 51 votes, which they have, rather than 60 votes, which they don’t have. It’s extremely doubtful that this will happen, since it would benefit Democrats more than Republicans.

Republicans already can get financial bills passed with 51 votes in the Senate. They aren’t big on other sorts of legislation. Democrats are. If Democrats take back control of the House, Senate, and Presidency in 2028, a distinct possibility, with no filibuster they could make Washington DC and Puerto Rico states, adding four Senate seats to the Democratic column. And additional justices could be added to the Supreme Court, negating the current 6-3 conservative majority.

Stay strong, Congressional Democrats. The public approves of how you’re handling the shutdown. The Democratic base also approves. You’ve got a virtuous cause: allowing tens of millions of Americans to keep their health insurance coverage.