Senator Bernie Sanders, (I. VT) “Republicans need to negotiate…that is how democracy works.”
By Paul Bean
All three members of Vermont’s congressional delegation blame Republicans for the ongoing Federal government shutdown, citing cuts in subsidized healthcare coverage and other government programs they say Americans depend on.
A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to approve the necessary appropriations bills that fund federal agencies and programs. These bills are intended to provide funding through the end of the fiscal year, which concluded on September 30. Without them, Congress must enact a temporary measure called a ‘continuing resolution’ (CR) to maintain funding at the existing level. Without an approved appropriations bill or a CR, the government experiences a shutdown due to insufficient funding.
The political standoff was triggered by a failure to pass a continuing resolution by midnight on September 30 (which needs 60% of the vote), and has already furloughed hundreds of thousands of federal workers nationwide and disrupted services from national parks to veterans’ benefits.
“As Americans know, Republicans hold the majority of the House and the Senate and they control the White House,” said Senator Bernie Sanders in a video posted to X prior to the shutdown. “In other words, they run the US Government. They have the responsibility to keep the Government open.”
Sens. Bernie Sanders (I), Peter Welch (D), and Rep. Becca Balint (D.) all opposed the continuing resolution, arguing the shutdown is necessary to protect Vermonters and millions of Americans from what they describe as devastating Republican policy priorities.
Estimates from the Congressional Budget Office project that GOP-backed legislation could strip coverage from up to 15 million people over the next decade while driving up premiums by as much as 75%.
“Here’s some of what it will take to win my vote in those negotiations, said Sanders in his 8 min video posted to X September 30th…“Republicans can not take away health from 15 million people, by making the largest cut to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act,” said Sanders.
Sen. Sanders pushed Senate colleagues in a livestream broadcast Monday evening against what he called an “assault on working families.” “We can’t allow Republicans to throw 15 million off health care and raise premiums by 75%,” Sanders said during the broadcast, which featured Sens. Ed Markey (D. Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D. Ore.), Elizabeth Warren (D. Mass) and others.
“At a time of such massive and growing inequality, it is insane, in my view, to be giving a trillion dollars in tax breaks to the top 1%,” Sanders added. “If President Trump and Republicans want my vote, they will have to rescind that tax break for their oligarchic friends.”
Wednesday afternoon on the Senate floor, Sen. Peter Welch said in reference to the healthcare coverage cuts, “There is in this country an affordability crisis. People can’t afford homes, and they definitely cannot afford health care. And folks are terrified at the likelihood of a person they love in their family getting sick if they don’t have insurance.”
“And what is about to happen, if we don’t act before this shutdown, is that folks, who are getting their health care on the Affordable Care Act, who are paying a significant portion of their income for that healthcare, but can only afford it because of the subsidies, not because they want to have subsidies, is so expensive,” Welch continued. “Obamacare, the Affordable Care Act, in your state and mine their health care. is a reason we cannot condone a resolution that does not protect people’s health care.”
Rep. Balint, Vermont’s sole House representative, echoed her Senate colleagues in a statement blasting the GOP at a press conference earlier this week.
“Today, we are here to say to all of those Americans who are afraid, we are standing with you, we are here to do the job, and I need you to pay attention to who’s not here. Who’s not here? It’s their shutdown. Republicans created this mess, a crisis that deeply impacts rural Americans, people of color, and the LGBT community,” said Balint. “It will close rural hospitals, not just in my state of Vermont, but in every rural district. And the Republicans who represent those rural districts, they know that, which is why Lisa McClain, in the Republican conference yesterday, told her members, ‘Stop talking about healthcare. When you talk about healthcare as a Republican, you are losing.’ Think about that.’”
Nationally, the Democrats’ insist on extending Obamacare subsidies in any funding bill, a demand Republicans have rejected until after reopening the government.
President Trump met with congressional leaders Monday in an effort to strike a deal for compromise, but Vice President JD Vance later told reporters “We’re headed to a shutdown.”
“Senate Democrats are about to block a clean, routine government funding bill because it doesn’t give free healthcare to illegals,” wrote Stephen Miller, President Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff, on X Tuesday evening.
“Democrats are prioritizing illegal aliens over American citizens. They are America Last radicals,” wrote President Trump’s Press Secretary, Karoline Levit on X in response to Miller’s remark.
“This is a lie,” wrote NY Senator Chuck Schumer in response. “Not a single federal dollar goes to providing health insurance for undocumented immigrants. NOT. ONE. PENNY. Republicans would rather lie and shut down the government down than protect your health care.”
This remark eventually drew a response from Vice President JD Vance explaining the administration’s take:
“This is important–money is fungible–and it’s why the Democrat and media lie that health care is not going to illegals is so preposterous,” wrote VP Vance. “Consider, for instance, two state Medicaid programs–Ohio and New York. New York gives Medicaid to illegals and Ohio doesn’t. When the government gives billions of dollars to New York for Medicaid, that frees up state money in New York that can then be spent on illegals. It’s like if you give a mobster $100 but he PROMISES you he won’t spend the money to buy a gun and commit a crime. Well, he takes the $100 you gave him and buys food, and then takes the money he would have spent on food and uses that money to buy the gun instead. This is what ‘money is fungible’ means.
“Additionally, because medical services are limited in supply, when an illegal accesses health. care, it drives up the cost for everyone. So New Yorkers are paying a higher price for medical services, and the federal government is subsidizing those higher prices. So everyone in the media, from George Stephanopoulos to Jake Tapper, repeating these Democrat talking points, is engaged in the Democrat propaganda war. Democrats shut down the government to give health care money to illegal aliens. It’s really that simple.”
Yesterday evening, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce sent out a notice informing members of the federal Government shutdown with a list of potential impacts:
“Potential Business Impacts
- Workforce & Payroll: Delays in federal employee wages or contractor payments may ripple through Vermont households and businesses.
- Permitting & Contracts: Federal agency approvals, licensing, and contract work may be delayed.
- Tourism & Transportation: National parks, airports, and customs operations could see disruptions, affecting travel and visitor activity in Vermont.
- Small Business & Lending Programs: SBA loans, federal grants, and other programs may be paused.
- Community & Social Supports: Nutrition, housing, and healthcare programs could face interruptions.”
Governor Scott responded to the situation on Monday, writing in a public statement, “Every state in our union manages to build and pass a balanced budget. The United States Congress can do the same, if they choose to rise above the partisan battles to prioritize this core constitutional duty. At this moment, Americans across the political spectrum are watching. Most do not demand partisan perfection. Instead, they seek stability, integrity, and authentic American leadership and our country is in desperate need of the type of leadership this moment requires.”