How to Reopen the Government
• The House has already passed the clean CR.
• The Senate must vote 60–yes on cloture to end debate and allow a vote.
• This same CR—written under Chuck Schumer’s leade... View MoreHow to Reopen the Government
• The House has already passed the clean CR.
• The Senate must vote 60–yes on cloture to end debate and allow a vote.
• This same CR—written under Chuck Schumer’s leadership—was passed 13 times before without filibuster, including under Biden.
• It funds the government at current (Biden-era) levels with no cuts or changes.
Quick Background on the Filibuster (for context):
In the U.S. Senate, a filibuster is a procedural tactic where senators extend debate to delay or block a vote on legislation. To end a filibuster and move to a final vote, the Senate must invoke cloture, which requires 60 votes (a three-fifths supermajority of the 100-member Senate). This rule is outlined in Senate Rule XXII.
What’s Happening with the Current Continuing Resolution (CR):
A Continuing Resolution (CR) is a temporary funding bill that keeps the federal government operating when Congress hasn’t passed full annual appropriations.
• The current CR is identical to the one passed 13 times previously under both Democratic and Republican leadership, including during the Biden administration.
• It contains no new riders, pork-barrel projects, or special-interest provisions—it simply extends existing government funding levels.
Fact Check: CRs are routinely used to avoid government shutdowns. The most recent CRs (e.g., those passed in 2023 and 2024) were clean, short-term extensions of prior funding with no major policy changes. This is standard practice and publicly documented in Congressional records.
The Real Issue: Obamacare Subsidies (Not in the CR)
Democrats are criticizing the CR over enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace subsidies, claiming Republicans are cutting healthcare. This is false.
• These additional subsidies were temporary measures passed by Democrats in 2021 via the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) during COVID.
• ARPA explicitly included a sunset clause—written and passed by Democrats—that ends these enhanced subsidies on December 31, 2025.
• Neither the current CR nor the 2025 budget resolution ends or modifies these subsidies. They are expiring on their own, per the original Democratic legislation.
Source: American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Section 9661 – clearly states the enhanced subsidies expire after 2025.
Why Were These Subsidies Needed in the First Place?
The ACA was passed in 2010 with the promise of making healthcare “affordable.” Yet:
• Enhanced subsidies have been repeatedly extended (2021 via ARPA, 2022 via Inflation Reduction Act) because without them, premiums become unaffordable for many.
• This raises the question: If the ACA is truly affordable, why does it keep requiring temporary taxpayer-funded boosts to remain viable?
Supporting Data:
• CBO estimated that letting enhanced subsidies expire would increase average marketplace premiums by 50–80% for many enrollees.
• Premiums under ACA plans rose over 100% from 2013 to 2023 in many states (KFF data).
How the ACA Was Passed (Historical Context):
The ACA was enacted using a controversial legislative maneuver:
1. The Senate passed a veterans’ healthcare bill.
2. The House replaced the entire text with the ACA language (originated in the House).
3. The Senate then used budget reconciliation to pass it with 60 votes, bypassing a potential filibuster.
4. This is why the ACA is officially cited as a Senate bill (S. something) despite originating in the House.
This process was legal but criticized as bypassing regular order and the Constitution’s bicameral legislative intent.
Conclusion: The Senate Democratic minority is filibustering a bill they previously supported—over an issue (Obamacare subsidies) not even in the bill. The government remains closed until 60 senators vote to move forward.
Credit Jared Alan
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