No progress on Capitol Hill yesterday; thus, the federal government is shut down. Democratic Congressman Troy Carter, who represents New Orleans, says what’s different about this one is that unlike shutdowns in the past, where federal employees were furloughed, employees this time around will lose their jobs altogether with no guarantee of being rehired when government reopens.
“The administration is planning to lay off thousands of people, which means during the shutdown period, they will go without a check and not get reimbursed later,” Carter said.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy says even if you’re not a federal worker, you could experience some major inconveniences thanks to the shutdown.
“If you’re planning a trip to a national park, that national park will shut down. If you are going to make an appointment to go speak to someone regarding your Medicare benefit, or your social security benefit, that line is not going to be answered or that door is going to be locked,” Cassidy said.
One of the biggest sticking points relates to the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year. Democrats want Republicans to commit to extending them now, while Republicans want to save that discussion for a later date. Carter says he’s not willing to risk those subsidies for millions of Americans.
“To offer a deal that hurts as many people as this deal does is really a deal that the President is saying, ‘I know you can’t accept this negotiation, so I’m going to shut it down,’” Carter said.
Cassidy, on the other hand, says Democrats are proposing spending cuts of their own which he says are untenable.
“Include cutting the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, created to help keep rural hospitals open, and to reimagine their future,” Cassidy said.
