Deal or no deal in Congress? Many CA Democrats protest agreement to end shutdown

The Senate on Monday took important steps to end the federal government shutdown within a few days, as many California Democrats fumed about the crisis-ending deal.

“This deal will do nothing to lower health care costs. I will be voting NO,” said Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, in a post on X.

California’s senators echoed those views.

“This fight was primarily about which party was striving to reduce health care costs for the American people,” said Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.

In the end, he and many other Democrats said, nothing concrete was done to ease the financial pain that millions are due to endure as health insurance premium subsidies end Dec. 31.

At the same time, some Democrats were teaming up with Republicans to keep the subsidies going.

Reps. Kevin Kiley, R-Roseville, and Sam Liccardo, D-Los Altos, unveiled legislation Monday to extend the credits for two years.

Among the ways they’d pay for the extension by limiting eligibility, notably to families of four with incomes of $192,900 or less, and by “cracking down on excessive Medicare Advantage payouts to insurers.” Medicare Advantage is a comprehensive health care plan used by many recipients.

The deal moving through the Senate Monday would keep the government open until Jan. 30. It would also provide funding until Oct. 1 for agriculture, veterans, congressional and military construction programs.

House Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, told Democrats he would schedule a vote on extending the health care subsidies next month.

All that was enough to convince seven Democratic senators and one independent to join 52 Republicans to provide the 60 needed to move legislation forward. Schiff and Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., are opposed to the bill.

If the measure clears the Senate, it goes to the House, which could meet as soon as Wednesday. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., seemed confident Monday he had the votes to pass the measure, and said he’s telling members to prepare to return to Washington as soon as possible. The House has not had a voting session since Sept. 19.

Republicans will have a 219-to-214 majority, and some centrist Democrats are expected to support the bill. So far, GOP leaders have made no commitment to vote on extending the health care subsidies.

Matsui, a senior member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, which considers health care legislation, is ready to fight.

“Now they’re asking families to trust a vague promise of a future vote to lower health care costs. That’s unacceptable. Premiums are skyrocketing. Americans are already stretched thin,” she said in a post on X.

House Congressional leaders also blasted the deal.

“The bill the Senate is taking up does not fix the health care crisis or make life more affordable for Americans across the country. That’s why I’m voting no,” said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-San Bernardino.

©2025 The Sacramento Bee. Visit sacbee.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.