"The federal government remains shut down after the Senate failed to pass either of two dueling plans presented by Republicans and Democrats last week. Republicans' plan would fund the government for seven weeks. The plan supported by most Senate Democrats would fund the government in exchange for extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, reversing cuts to health spending under the One Big Beautiful Bill act and limiting Trump's ability to withhold funds appropriated by Congress."
"In an interview with Morning Edition, Van Hollen described expiring ACA subsidies as a "ticking time bomb" that could drastically increase consumers' monthly health premiums. Most of the 24 million people who buy health insurance through ACA marketplaces rely on the subsidies, according to health policy research group KFF. Van Hollen also said he expects his home state of Maryland, where federal workers make up more than 7 percent of the workforce, to fight the Trump administration over its decision to cancel billions of dollars in green energy funding and possibly fire many more federal employees."
Senate Democrats are united in an effort to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies for more than 20 million people and to limit presidential authority to withhold funds. The federal government remains shut down after the Senate failed to pass either of two competing plans. One Republican plan would fund the government for seven weeks. The Democratic-backed plan would fund the government while extending ACA subsidies, reversing health spending cuts under the One Big Beautiful Bill act, and preventing the administration from withholding congressionally appropriated funds. Most of the 24 million marketplace enrollees rely on subsidies, raising concerns about premium spikes. Maryland's large federal workforce faces impacts from canceled green energy funding and potential federal job cuts, while the administration frames the moves as cost-saving measures.
Read at www.npr.org
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]