FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — On Day 41 of the government shutdown, now the country’s longest, Valley congressmen are en route to Washington for a critical Wednesday night vote.
“This shutdown has been difficult for America,” Fresno Democratic Congressman Jim Costa told Action News.
He and his colleagues in the House of Representatives received a 36-hour notice to return to Capitol Hill following a breakthrough in the Senate late Monday.
8 Democrats in that chamber split from their party to join Republicans in supporting a bill to reopen the government.
“This measure that the Senate passes is a compromise, and like any compromise, there are things that folks like and there are things that folks dislike,” Congressman Costa said.
In exchange for the Senate Democrats’ votes, Senate Republicans agreed merely to hold a vote on healthcare subsidies. They did not agree to vote with Democrats to make them law.
“We are planning on nothing happening, because I think that’s just in our best interest, is to plan as if they aren’t (going to) pass anything,” California mother of two Briana Vasquez told ABC News.
Vasquez is one of the millions of Californians whose premiums could now spike. Her family’s plan is expected to quadruple, from $ 282 a month to over $1,000.
“It should not be this way,” Vasquez said. “We should not have to have subsidies to afford healthcare, but then do something about it and fix it.”
From chaos in the skies to long lines for food as SNAP benefits dried up, Americans everywhere have felt the pain of the shutdown.
With no promise that healthcare premiums will go down, Action News asked Congressman Costa if the 41-day fight was worth it.
“The commitment on the Affordable Health Care Act – We’ve raised to the level that I think the public wants to deliver,” Rep. Costa said, putting the onus on Republicans to act.
“Should Democrats have held out longer, though, to try to get more firm action…?” Action News asked.
“Well, the fact is that we talk about a misery index, and how much misery can you continue to extend?” Rep. Costa said.
The congressman says he will decide how to vote on the government funding bill on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Republican Congressman Vince Fong in the South Valley explained his position in a statement to Action News:
“For more than 40 days, Senate Democrats have held the American people hostage by using them as leverage.
Senator Schumer’s political games have wreaked havoc on our nation’s families by harming resources like SNAP, shutting down our skies, and forcing hardworking federal law enforcement officers and military families to work without pay. This should never have happened, as this shutdown was completely avoidable.
Tomorrow, I’ll once again vote to reopen the government and get essential services provided in our communities and across the nation.”
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