"[Some Democrats] assert that in hammering away at the extension of health care subsidies that are slated to expire at the end of next month, they managed to thrust Mr. Trump and Republicans onto the defensive, elevating a political issue that has long been a major weakness for them. And in holding out for weeks while Republicans refused to extend the health tax credits and Mr. Trump went to court to deny low-income Americans SNAP food benefits,"
"Trump's clumsy and insensitive handling of the SNAP benefit cutoff was an unforced error and a gift to Democrats. But just as importantly, by "losing" the Obamacare subsidy-extension fight, Democrats may have dodged a bullet. A deal on that issue would have cushioned or even eliminated an Obamacare premium price hike that will now be a real problem for Trump and the GOP. Republicans appear to have no health-care plan other than the same tired panaceas involving individual savings"
Republicans celebrated a short-term victory as Democrats showed recriminations and disunity during the longest government shutdown. Eight Democratic senators ended a filibuster to reopen government, and Democrats failed to secure an extension of Obamacare premium subsidies. Democrats forced Republicans and Mr. Trump onto the defensive by spotlighting expiring health-care subsidies and the SNAP benefit cutoff. The SNAP cutoff became an unforced error for Mr. Trump and a political asset for Democrats. By not winning the subsidy-extension fight, Democrats may have avoided responsibility for cushioning looming premium increases that will now pose a problem for Republicans. Republicans lack a clear health-care alternative beyond individual savings proposals.
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