Today, for all intents and purposes, is the day of reckoning for the ongoing government shutdown.
Once midnight strikes, SNAP runs out of money, and healthcare subsidies are no more.
Who takes the blame when kids are going hungry and healthcare premiums go up is anyone’s guess at this point, but Donald Trump is not ready to gamble, telling the GOP to end the filibuster to pass the continuing resolution.
Problem number one is that on Saturday, the healthcare marketplace opens up for Americans to start shopping for their health insurance for next year.
Without those subsidies, many people are going to see a significant rise in the cost of their plans.
The GOP has offered to put a stand-alone bill on the floor to extend current subsidies for one year, then negotiate reform, but that has been overwhelmingly rejected by Democrats, who demand that the subsidies be put in place permanently.
Dems could have made these subsidies permanent in 2021 when they passed the American Rescue Plan via reconciliation, but they only chose to extend them for one year while expanding who qualified for the assistance. They could have done it again in 2022 when they passed the Inflation Reduction Act via reconciliation, but they only chose to extend them to the end of fiscal year 2025. To me, they were thinking ahead just in case they lost the presidential election, preserving the ability to use the tax cuts as leverage, and that is what they are now trying to do.
SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, helps feed nearly 42 million families in this country. Notice I did not say American citizens, as there is a notable percentage of non-citizens who are also receiving these benefits.
The USDA announced that funding is dried up for the program without the CR being signed, so as of Saturday, anyone who was expecting to see their balance refilled on their SNAP card is going to be disappointed.
Now, through no fault of their own, there are millions of children whose groceries are bought and paid for by SNAP benefits, and everyone realizes how bad a look it is for kids to go hungry. Nobody wants to see that happen.
For that very reason, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) presented legislation to fund SNAP, but it was rejected by leadership, stating that they will not piecemeal the CR to pacify people. Just sign the bill, and everything gets funded.
Trump has more or less stayed out of this fight, but that all ended late Thursday night, as he called for an end to the shutdown by eliminating the filibuster in the Senate.
First, Trump outlined why Democrats are holding the CR hostage, posting, "They want Trillions of Dollars to be taken from our Healthcare System and given to others, who are not deserving — People who have come into our Country illegally, many from prisons and mental institutions. This will hurt American citizens, and Republicans will not let it happen."
Then he made his desire quite clear, adding, "Get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW!"
Trump was back in D.C. on Thursday, hosting a Halloween event at the White House. If the Senate can pass the bill, he will sign it tonight, and everything will be reopened and funded. This has now become a three-way staring contest between Democrats, the GOP Senate, and Donald Trump. Will anyone blink before midnight?
