1) This is a fight to save health care
At the end of the year, tax credits that help middle-class families afford health care are set to expire.
As a result, 22 million Americans will see their health insurance premiums skyrocket next year — by an average of 114%.
Republicans know their position is unpopular, which is why leadership is telling them to stay silent on health care.
Democrats have been clear from the start: we want to reverse the cuts, lower the costs, and save health care.
Meanwhile, Republicans have refused to lift a finger to make health care more affordable.
The cost of Trump’s billionaire-first tax law is more than 10 times higher than the cost of extending the enhanced ACA premium tax credits.
2) Republicans own this shutdown
Republicans control the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives — it’s on them to fund the government.
For weeks, they refused to negotiate and prevent steep increases to health care costs — now they have the audacity to blame Democrats.
Republicans created this health care crisis for the American people, and Democrats are fighting to fix it.
3) Democrats are (and have been) ready to negotiate
Democrats are in Washington, D.C., ready to negotiate a path forward that saves health care for millions of Americans and keeps the government open.
Republicans, meanwhile, are on vacation instead of doing their job to fund the government.
For months, Democrats have been clear that cuts to health care were a red line that could not be crossed. Republicans refused to negotiate.
Instead, in their budget bill, Republicans spent over 10 times more ($4.5 trillion/10 years) to extend tax breaks to billionaires rather than extend ACA tax credits ($350 billion/10 years).
Reminder: When Senate Democrats last had the majority for four years, they didn’t have one shutdown. Why? Because Democrats negotiated all 13 funding bills during that time period with Republicans.
4) Americans see through Republican spin and lies
Trump and Republicans will be held responsible by voters for a government shutdown.
Poll after poll after poll confirms it.
Their latest desperate attack is repeating the lie that Democrats are “shutting down the government to give health care to illegals.”
Fact Check: Federal law already prohibits undocumented immigrants from receiving comprehensive federal coverage — Democrats’ plan doesn’t change that.
The Truth: Republicans are trying to jack up health care costs on working families to protect their massive tax cuts for billionaires.
5) Republicans want a shutdown so they can fire more workers
Trump’s budget chief, Russ Vought, wrote Project 2025 and is now using a government shutdown to pursue his agenda of firing thousands of federal workers without cause.
Labor unions that represent federal workers are calling on Democrats to hold the line.
