Appearing on the broadcast of CSPAN’s “Ceasefire” program on Friday, December 19, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) went nuclear on his party for the budding Obamacare disaster, noting that Obamacare and the temporary subsidies that are expiring at the end of this year are a firmly Democratic creation and thus the budding disaster is not “like a Republican thing.”
As background, part of the change in federal spending reflected in the Big, Beautiful Bill and Continuing Resolutions made to keep the government open is that the temporary Obamacare subsidies, passed as part of the 2021 American Rescue Plan, are ending in 2026.
That means the cost of healthcare for the 7% of Americans who use Obamacare plans is set to escalate dramatically, as the subsidies had pushed the cost of healthcare down significantly. As a result, Democrats, despite being the ones who made the subsidies temporary and designed the disastrous Obamacare system, are trying to use the matter as a weapon against conservatives.
Sen. Fetterman pushed back on that during his appearance on “Ceasefire”, noting when speaking to Sen. Britt (R-AL) that the whole system was designed by the Democrats and that it is thus their issue, using that to argue that the proper thing to do is try to figure out a deal for a one year subsidy extension with the Republicans.
So, after touting the benefits of extending the subsidies by one year, he told the Ceasefire host, “I’d like to remind, it’s like, this was our bill, Obamacare. Not a single Republican voted for that, not one. And now, these extensions [were] through COVID, and that was designed by — designed to expire at the end of this year.”
Continuing, he reiterated the point that the subsidies were not a “Republican thing” and had been designed and passed entirely by Democrats, saying, “That wasn’t like a Republican thing. It was like that was the way it was designed, and now here it is.”
Concluding after that blistering attack on his party’s current talking point, he said, “And now it doesn’t require people to agree that it’s all awesome. But what we can agree [on is] that there is not much time to do this and negotiate it. I think some changes are appropriate. But, for me, you don’t have time.”
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President Trump, for his part, posting on Truth Social about Obamacare, said, “I am sorry that the American People are being terrorized by Democrats who have decided to shut the Government down to make me and other Republicans continue ObamaCare subsidies, which have been a windfall for Health Insurance Companies, and a DISASTER for the American People. The largest Health Insurance Companies have seen their Stock Prices soar (Some over 1000%!) since the passage of ObamaCare.”
He added, “Meanwhile, Americans’ Premiums have more than DOUBLED, contrary to President Obama’s promise. I believe that the money should go directly to THE PEOPLE to purchase better Healthcare, and create competition. This enrichment of Health Insurance companies must stop. It is long past time to lower Premiums, not enrich Insurance Companies. I stand ready to work with both Parties to solve this problem once the Government is open. Stop terrorizing the American People. Stop pushing failed policies!”