FRESNO, Calif. —
“It should not be this way,” said Briana Vasquez, a California mother of two, speaking to ABC News. Vasquez is among the millions of Californians facing a steep rise in healthcare premiums. Her family’s insurance plan is expected to quadruple, increasing from $282 a month to over $1,000.
“We should not have to have subsidies to afford healthcare, but then do something about it and fix it,” she added.
The recent government shutdown has left Americans feeling the strain in many areas — from chaos in the skies to long lines at food banks as SNAP benefits dried up. With no clear promise that healthcare premiums will decrease anytime soon, Action News reached out to Congressman Jim Costa to ask if the 41-day standoff was worth the consequences.
“The commitment on the Affordable Health Care Act we’ve raised to the level that I think the public wants to deliver,” Rep. Costa said, placing the responsibility on Republicans to take action.
When asked if Democrats should have held out longer to push for more concrete measures, Rep. Costa responded, “Well, the fact is that we talk about a misery index, and how much misery can you continue to extend?”
The congressman also noted that he will decide how to vote on the upcoming government funding bill on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Republican Congressman Vince Fong, representing the South Valley, explained his perspective in a statement to Action News:
“For more than 40 days, Senate Democrats have held the American people hostage by using them as leverage. Senator Schumer’s political games have wreaked havoc on our nation’s families by harming resources like SNAP, shutting down our skies, and forcing hardworking federal law enforcement officers and military families to work without pay. This should never have happened, as this shutdown was completely avoidable. Tomorrow, I’ll once again vote to reopen the government and get essential services provided in our communities and across the nation.”
https://abc30.com/post/valley-lawmakers-return-washington-ahead-crucial-vote-reopen-government/18144812/
