John,
Last night, a handful of Senate Democrats joined Republicans to advance a deal to reopen the government, and they left millions of Americans’ healthcare on the chopping block.[1]
As early as tonight, the Senate will vote on a government funding bill that does nothing to protect the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that made coverage affordable for 24 million people. Those subsidies were the single most important factor behind the largest expansion in ACA enrollment ever recorded. Dropping them means working families will face premium hikes of several thousand dollars next year while billionaires and corporations continue to cash in on tax cuts.
These enhanced credits didn’t just lower premiums, they made quality coverage possible for families who were once forced to choose between paying medical bills or the mortgage. They cut the average monthly premium in half for many middle-class families, ended the subsidy cliff, and ensured that even those earning above the previous cutoff could get help. Losing these subsidies now will cause premiums to skyrocket and send millions right back into the ranks of the uninsured.
Democrats fought for these subsidies, but now some Democrats appear to be surrendering them for short-term political cover. That is unacceptable.
Tell the House and Senate to vote NO on any government funding bill that fails to include the enhanced ACA subsidies.
For millions of families, Trump-GOP healthcare premium hikes wipe out any potential tax cuts they’ll see next year. That means working people end up worse off while billionaires and big corporations grow richer.[2]
The numbers speak for themselves. A middle-income couple will pay thousands more for the same coverage next year, completely canceling out the modest tax relief they were promised under Trump’s tax law.
Healthcare costs are eating away every dollar of progress that working families have made. Restoring these ACA subsidies is one of the fastest, most direct ways Congress can protect household budgets, and every senator who voted for this deal knows it.
The contrast could not be clearer. Billionaires have seen their wealth soar by trillions since the first Trump tax law, while ordinary people are being told to tighten their belts and accept higher costs. Congress has the power to reverse this. By renewing the ACA subsidies, lawmakers can prove they are willing to stand with the families they represent instead of the corporate interests that fund their campaigns.
Congress must not reopen the government while ignoring the people’s basic need for affordable healthcare.
Tell your lawmakers to vote NO on any funding bill that excludes ACA subsidies.
Let’s stand up for affordable healthcare.
David Kass
Executive Director
Americans for Tax Fairness Action Fund
[1] Senate Moves Toward Ending Shutdown After Democratic Defectors Relent
[2] For Many Families, Trump-GOP Healthcare Premium Hikes Wipe Out Potential Tax Cuts - Americans For Tax Fairness
