Trump’s Proposal for Health Care Funding
President Trump has expressed to Senate Republicans that funds currently allocated to insurance companies should be redirected to individuals, enabling them to purchase improved health care options.
The government has been in a shutdown for nearly 40 days as Senate Democrats advocate for an extension of enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.
In a social media post, Trump stated, “I am recommending to Senate Republicans that the hundreds of billions of dollars currently being sent to money-sucking insurance companies in order to save the bad health care provided by Obamacare be sent directly to the people so that they can purchase their own, much better, health care, and have money left over.”
He further criticized the current health care system by saying, “In other words, take from the big, bad insurance companies, give it to the people, and terminate, per dollar spent, the worst health care anywhere in the world: Obamacare.”
Trump reiterated his call for Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster. He claimed that Democrats are undermining the economy and urged Republicans to act decisively.
Despite Trump’s calls for action, Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota and other Republican leaders have indicated they are not inclined to abolish the filibuster.
This past Friday, Senate Democrats blocked a bill aimed at compensating federal workers who have been without pay due to the ongoing shutdown. This occurred after Republicans rejected a proposal from Democrats that included a one-year extension of premium subsidies.
