A lot of Democratic voters are looking for a fight, and a lot of Democratic politicians are looking to accommodate them. As it happens, the legislative calendar can oblige both sides: Democrats should be willing to risk a government shutdown, which looms at the end of the month, in order to save health insurance subsidies for millions of Americans, which are set to expire at the end of the year.
A worthwhile fight is one that is well-chosen to achieve something substantively and politically. That means picking a fight on Democrats’ best issue, health care, at a time when Americans are crying out for action on the cost of living. If Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer doesn’t jump into this battle early, the situation could quickly careen out of his control, the way it nearly did the last time around.