On Oct. 1, Democrats shut down the federal government. Their goal was to force congressional Republicans to negotiate an extension for Obamacare premium subsidies. Unless Congress reaches such a deal, millions of Americans will pay significantly more for health insurance next year — a fact that is already becoming clear as Americans receive letters from their insurance companies alerting them to the premium spikes.
In the meantime, the stakes of the shutdown deepen by the day. Federal workers have not been paid for weeks, and while the Trump administration claims to have found a way to pay military personnel, their future paychecks are in jeopardy. More flights are being delayed due to TSA staffing shortages, and if key personnel stop showing up for work, it could pose safety issues.
Most immediately, federal food assistance for more than 40 million Americans will end on Nov. 1. As Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia said, "How am I supposed to choose between those two constituencies? I care about all those people."
This has always been the challenge for a Democratic-led shutdown. Unless the standoff was resolved with surprising speed, ordinary Americans were going to pay a heavy price — and with millions at risk of going hungry, that moment is now.
This is a preview of Michael A. Cohen's latest column. Read the full column here.
