House Speaker Mike Johnson lashed out at Democrats on Monday for creating the healthcare crisis they are now using to demand more than a trillion dollars in new spending to reopen the goverment, much of which would be used to continue subsidizing “Obamacare” medical premiums.
Democrats have kept the government shut down for more than five weeks by failing to side with Republicans on a clean continuing budget resolution to reopen the government. While most Democrats in the House opposed it, all the measure needed in the lower chamber was a majority vote, which it received thanks to GOP support.
But in the Senate, 60 votes are needed to overcome the filibuster and advance legislation. So far, only a few Democrats have joined the 53 Republicans to support the bill after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) instructed his caucus to oppose the bill and keep the government shuttered while demanding the Obamacare subsidies be added before they expire next month.
