We are supposed to be the richest country in the world, yet we can't afford healthcare for all our citizens or make sure none of them are starving. Yet we can always afford to pay for war and anything else that the republicans think is important. Notice how the military was taken care of (as the men and women of the service should be). But they can't find a way to shift funds to pay for food for families and children in need. What happened to government by the people for the people?
Funds don't need to be shifted, there is a SNAP contingency fund that currently stands at $6B. These funds have been used during previous shutdowns but only this administration refuses to use it.
The contingency funds for SNAP are there. Congress has alotted them. Trump's Department of Agriculture refuses for some inane reason not to release them.
Update: Now we're hearing that the contingency funds will not meet the need for very long, and that is with reducing the benefit by 50%. If you only got half of what you needed and depended upon, would you feel well treated? The GOP administration and government are acting in a parsimonious manner.
You mean 49% who bothered to vote for either of the two major parties. Those who voted for third party candidates were making their choices known. The rest who didn't bother to vote at all - shame upon them. Should we be like Australians and make voting mandatory?
Republicans have caused many of the problems with wages and Trump tariffs. Some people work more than one job and others are like she said disabled veterans and non veterans, children and elderly people that don’t draw enough social security are the ones that need food assistance. WIC and Meals on Wheels for qualifying seniors are for people who are on the lower rungs of the income ladder. For some seniors that may be the only hot meal they can get for a day. WIC program provides basic staple food items including baby formula and baby food. A worthy program that defrays the cost for basic food items.
A senior citizen or a mom should never have to choose between paying for food or medicine or rent or monthly bills. Reasonably priced healthcare and groceries for everyone.
For the sake of humanity, there should be 49 more. The ones who are too afraid of Trump to heed their oaths of office and serve their constituents should retire forthwith. Shame!
This nation has some of the richest PEOPLE in the world. They got that way primarily because they were in special interst groups, who made sure that legislation was favorable to their ends. It has gone on for decades, and we're now at the point where there is a huge discrepency between the poor and the wealthy.
The immediate crises affecting Americans -- the healthcare subsidies cliff, the cutoff of SNAP and WIC -- have been planned by Johnson and Thune since January. Take a look at the progress of 2026 appropriations bills at congress.gov. None have passed, yet the Republicans control both houses. What precious little was done in Congress this year was to boost the Big Ugly Bill Act.
Republicans intentionally sought this course in order to force Democrats to put off, if not vote against the ACA subsidies. Republicans say, "We'll be happy to vote for SNAP if Democrats vote to put off ACA subsidies until later." That is a corrupt and immoral choice.
Mike Johnson & MAGA GOP have not forgotten that SNAP benefits were continued during the last Trump shutdown. They are just lying & using the threat of hunger for millions to take health care coverage from millions. Trump's Ag Dept clearly & repeatedly stated that SNAP contingency funds could be used in case of a government shutdown. This was confirmed by the Office of Budget and Management.
And what happened to the people who depended upon USAID could tell us what it was like. Well, now our own people can tell us what it is like to lose access to a basic human need. FDR said something about 'freedom from want'. This is nothing like what he or any Democratic administration would have approved. This, and denial of affordable healthcare is without conscience, honor, or ethics. It is inhumane and evil.
The Republicans can end the shutdown whenever they want! Don't be fooled by them and think it's the Democrats fault. The Republicans can remove the filibuster with a simple majority and then pass anything they want. Don't believe their BS!
SHAME! why is this party so damn weak. HOLD THE LINE. Repubs can’t b trusted. The ACA subsidies are more important than opening the govt. shame. I hope ur primaried.
This can be easily avoided if enough Senate Democrats vote to pass the CR. Maybe Senators Thune and Schumer will talk tonight and allow for the needed number of Democrats to get to sixty votes and finally pass the bill.
But make no mistake. This shutdown has largely been brought on by the most left-leaning part of the Democratic Party who savaged Schumer for passing the last CR. Now he feels like he's in a "no-win" scenario, and he's right. It might well be the end of his political career.
Sad to say, you're off base. Sen. Schumer voted for the first CR to allow the GOP to fix the big ugly bill and put forth a budget that was fair to the American people. They promised to do so, and reneged on it. Schumer is holding firm for benefits to be restored to the people and isn't about to bargain with people who don't keep promises. It is not "left-leaning" to want basic human needs to be restored.
I think there will be additional funding approved, at least through the next FY once the government reopens. The long term issue now is people are getting the idea that the ACA is not really all that "A" (affordable) and that fixing it presents some real challenges.
Hope you're right, though Congress (when it was in session) has been doing damned little that was of true benefit for the people of the dountry. The GOP doesn't appear to know how or want to govern.
Right you are. If anyone can find anything beneficial that the GOP Congress has done for the people since opening this session, it would be impossible.
We are supposed to be the richest country in the world, yet we can't afford healthcare for all our citizens or make sure none of them are starving. Yet we can always afford to pay for war and anything else that the republicans think is important. Notice how the military was taken care of (as the men and women of the service should be). But they can't find a way to shift funds to pay for food for families and children in need. What happened to government by the people for the people?
Funds don't need to be shifted, there is a SNAP contingency fund that currently stands at $6B. These funds have been used during previous shutdowns but only this administration refuses to use it.
The contingency funds for SNAP are there. Congress has alotted them. Trump's Department of Agriculture refuses for some inane reason not to release them.
Update: Now we're hearing that the contingency funds will not meet the need for very long, and that is with reducing the benefit by 50%. If you only got half of what you needed and depended upon, would you feel well treated? The GOP administration and government are acting in a parsimonious manner.
Alas, 49% of "the people" voted for this. What happened to government by and for the people was universal suffrage.
You mean 49% who bothered to vote for either of the two major parties. Those who voted for third party candidates were making their choices known. The rest who didn't bother to vote at all - shame upon them. Should we be like Australians and make voting mandatory?
Republicans have caused many of the problems with wages and Trump tariffs. Some people work more than one job and others are like she said disabled veterans and non veterans, children and elderly people that don’t draw enough social security are the ones that need food assistance. WIC and Meals on Wheels for qualifying seniors are for people who are on the lower rungs of the income ladder. For some seniors that may be the only hot meal they can get for a day. WIC program provides basic staple food items including baby formula and baby food. A worthy program that defrays the cost for basic food items.
A senior citizen or a mom should never have to choose between paying for food or medicine or rent or monthly bills. Reasonably priced healthcare and groceries for everyone.
A great interview with a fantastic Senator!
For the sake of humanity, there should be 49 more. The ones who are too afraid of Trump to heed their oaths of office and serve their constituents should retire forthwith. Shame!
The bigger picture, and the really sad and tragic thing, is that 42 million Americans cannot afford groceries. Richest nation in the world??
This nation has some of the richest PEOPLE in the world. They got that way primarily because they were in special interst groups, who made sure that legislation was favorable to their ends. It has gone on for decades, and we're now at the point where there is a huge discrepency between the poor and the wealthy.
The immediate crises affecting Americans -- the healthcare subsidies cliff, the cutoff of SNAP and WIC -- have been planned by Johnson and Thune since January. Take a look at the progress of 2026 appropriations bills at congress.gov. None have passed, yet the Republicans control both houses. What precious little was done in Congress this year was to boost the Big Ugly Bill Act.
Republicans intentionally sought this course in order to force Democrats to put off, if not vote against the ACA subsidies. Republicans say, "We'll be happy to vote for SNAP if Democrats vote to put off ACA subsidies until later." That is a corrupt and immoral choice.
Mike Johnson & MAGA GOP have not forgotten that SNAP benefits were continued during the last Trump shutdown. They are just lying & using the threat of hunger for millions to take health care coverage from millions. Trump's Ag Dept clearly & repeatedly stated that SNAP contingency funds could be used in case of a government shutdown. This was confirmed by the Office of Budget and Management.
https://newrepublic.com/post/202485/mike-johnson-forgotten-donald-trump-snap-shutdown?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the_ticker_rss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vukKJgNAW3w
And what happened to the people who depended upon USAID could tell us what it was like. Well, now our own people can tell us what it is like to lose access to a basic human need. FDR said something about 'freedom from want'. This is nothing like what he or any Democratic administration would have approved. This, and denial of affordable healthcare is without conscience, honor, or ethics. It is inhumane and evil.
The Republicans can end the shutdown whenever they want! Don't be fooled by them and think it's the Democrats fault. The Republicans can remove the filibuster with a simple majority and then pass anything they want. Don't believe their BS!
Thanks to Senator Rosen for her comments. Really like the "us" in USA.
My healthcare premium will cost 617% more! Thank’s but “NO” thanks!!! Unbelievably ashamed at the lack of integrity.
I’m going to have to pay 1400 a month in medical insurance to keep my husband alive Jackie. You fraud of a human.
SHAME! why is this party so damn weak. HOLD THE LINE. Repubs can’t b trusted. The ACA subsidies are more important than opening the govt. shame. I hope ur primaried.
This didn't age so well, huh?
Jackie rocks!
This can be easily avoided if enough Senate Democrats vote to pass the CR. Maybe Senators Thune and Schumer will talk tonight and allow for the needed number of Democrats to get to sixty votes and finally pass the bill.
But make no mistake. This shutdown has largely been brought on by the most left-leaning part of the Democratic Party who savaged Schumer for passing the last CR. Now he feels like he's in a "no-win" scenario, and he's right. It might well be the end of his political career.
Sad to say, you're off base. Sen. Schumer voted for the first CR to allow the GOP to fix the big ugly bill and put forth a budget that was fair to the American people. They promised to do so, and reneged on it. Schumer is holding firm for benefits to be restored to the people and isn't about to bargain with people who don't keep promises. It is not "left-leaning" to want basic human needs to be restored.
Right now Schumer and the Dems allegedly want to add over a trillion dollars in spending to the CR. I doubt that will happen.
You are surely correct about the addition, though just the return to the pre-cut funding level for these domestic programs would be a benefit.
I think there will be additional funding approved, at least through the next FY once the government reopens. The long term issue now is people are getting the idea that the ACA is not really all that "A" (affordable) and that fixing it presents some real challenges.
Hope you're right, though Congress (when it was in session) has been doing damned little that was of true benefit for the people of the dountry. The GOP doesn't appear to know how or want to govern.
Right you are. If anyone can find anything beneficial that the GOP Congress has done for the people since opening this session, it would be impossible.