For nearly a month, the federal government has been shuttered — and Orange County’s congressional delegation says health care costs are directly tied to negotiations to reopen it.

The government shutdown is entering its fourth week, on track to become the longest in U.S. history. President Donald Trump, while hosting Republican senators at the White House on Tuesday, Oct. 21, did not signal any compromises with Democrats over health care funds, the crux of shutdown negotiations.

Most of Orange County’s congressional delegation doesn’t seem too optimistic about a compromise, either.

Related: OC House members answer questions on immigration, government shutdown, their votes and more

We asked the six members who represent at least a portion of the county — Democratic Reps. Linda Sánchez, Derek Tran, Lou Correa, Dave Min and Mike Levin, as well as Republican Rep. Young Kim — their thoughts on the government shutdown and if they saw an area where their party could compromise with the other side of the aisle to open it back up.

Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, struck a hopeful chord, saying: “Health care affordability is one area where I believe there is room for bipartisan cooperation.”

“I have spoken with colleagues on both sides of the aisle who understand that keeping health care affordable is a shared priority,” Levin said. “We may not agree on every detail, but I believe there is a path forward to stabilize costs and bring some certainty to working families.”

But Correa was a bit more blunt in his response.

“You can’t compromise when it comes to affordable health care for American citizens,” the Santa Ana Democrat said. “I was sent to Washington to make the lives of our constituents a little bit better, not to compromise on affordable health care.”

One of the main issues for Democrats in Washington, D.C., as the government remains shut down, is the Affordable Care Act-era health insurance tax credits set to expire at the end of the year. They are meant to offset costs for health insurance purchased through the ACA marketplace, making premiums more affordable for the more than 24 million people who get coverage there.

While lawmakers on either side of the aisle have signaled they’d like to extend those credits, at least temporarily, Democrats have made it a sticking point in government funding negotiations because of the massive spending bill signed into law by Trump over the summer.

Nearly 4 million people would not be insured if the tax credits expire, according to a Congressional Budget Office estimate.

“Many (Californians) will not be able to afford health care and will go uninsured. This is not in the best interest of Americans,” Correa said.

Kim, the only Republican who represents Orange County in Washington, has backed a short-term plan to extend the subsidies for just one year.

But when it comes to the shutdown, Kim said she voted for GOP bills that only addressed funding for federal agencies — called “clean” bills since they do not include other policy changes, such as an extension of those subsidies — because of her aversion to a government shutdown in general.

Democrats have blamed Republicans, who control the U.S. House, Senate and White House, for the government shutdown. Kim and other Republicans have pointed the finger at Democrats.

“My Democratic colleagues in Washington need to reopen the government and end this crisis before everyday Americans pay an even higher price,” said Kim.

“I am ready and willing to tackle the serious challenges facing our nation, including reining in rising health care costs. However, the livelihoods of hardworking Americans cannot be used as bargaining chips to gain political leverage,” she said. “I have engaged on these issues and hope to continue these important discussions when our government is back up and running for the American people.”

Tran, too, said he hoped to see lawmakers come together to work on health care — as well as pay for servicemembers.

“Republicans and Democrats must return to the negotiating table to find a compromise that protects health care, lowers costs and ensures that our troops are paid,” Tran, an Orange Democrat and veteran, said. “Hundreds of thousands of Americans are going to see their health care costs skyrocket if Congress doesn’t act.”

Min and Sánchez, meanwhile, were less positive.

“It’s hard to find a compromise when the other side isn’t even showing up for work,” said Sánchez, D-Whittier, noting the House has been in recess.

“I have been frankly disappointed by the lack of bipartisanship I’ve seen since I joined Congress,” said Min, D-Irvine. He said he wants Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, to bring House members back into session and start dialogue on the government shutdown as well as health care costs.

All six of Orange County’s lawmakers answered additional questions about the shutdown, as well as about their recent votes, immigration enforcement and more, in wide-ranging Q&As. The full Q&As can be found here.