Moving Past the Shutdown: A Call for Bipartisan Health Care Solutions

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen from New Hampshire has a clear message: it's time to move on from the government shutdown and tackle the pressing issue of health care costs. She believes that lawmakers need to stop the blame game and focus on finding common ground to address the rising costs of health care. Shaheen points out that the recent shutdown happened because key figures, including Donald Trump and Speaker Johnson, failed to address the issue of health care costs. She argues that lawmakers need to come together to pass a bipartisan bill that can help control these costs. During the shutdown, eight Senate Democrats, including Shaheen, broke away from their party to negotiate with Republicans. They secured a deal to end the shutdown, with a promise to vote on extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits next month. These credits help millions of Americans afford their health insurance premiums. Now, Democrats have a limited window to push forward with legislation to extend these tax credits. The big question is what this legislation will look like and whether it can gain enough support to pass. Shaheen suggests focusing on areas of agreement, such as capping the income of those who receive premium tax credits and reducing fraud within the program. She emphasizes the urgency of extending these credits to help Americans afford their health care. Shaheen has been working with Republicans, including Sen. Bill Cassidy, to find a bipartisan solution. However, Cassidy's plan to lower health care costs differs from Shaheen's approach. His plan involves giving Americans money to offset high deductibles, a feature of lower-cost ACA policies. Shaheen is skeptical about implementing significant reforms in the short term. She believes that while short-term solutions are possible, long-term strategies are also necessary to address the overall cost of health care.