Democrats are lashing out at the eight senators from their own party who voted to reopen the government without securing more federal subsidies for the Affordable Care Act \u2014 but a new survey of small business owners reveals that Democrats\u2019 favorite health care policy may not be playing well with the American electorate.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cost of health insurance has gone up every year since the ACA,\u201d a Pennsylvania manufacturer told the National Federation of Independent Business. \u201cNo small business can keep up with the costs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Health insurance premiums rose 143%<\/a> in the first six years after the ACA, colloquially known as Obamacare, took effect. Next year, premiums are set to rise 26%<\/a> on average. Democrats say these rising premiums justify Congress approving $24.6 billion<\/a> worth of taxpayer-funded subsidies, while Republicans say the need to spend billions offsetting premium costs proves that the ACA is unaffordable and unsustainable.<\/p>\n \u201cThe increase will surely kill many small businesses in the next couple of years,\u201d the Pennsylvania manufacturer said. \u201cSoon I will no longer be able to offer health insurance to my employees. In turn, this will cost me good employees.\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019s not the only one feeling the crunch.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is becoming increasingly difficult to provide medical insurance that the company and employees can afford,\u201d a manufacturer from Ohio added.<\/p>\n Obamacare prices were at the heart of the longest government shutdown in American history, which the Senate voted to break Monday night after 41 days.\u00a0Republicans pushed for a continuing resolution to reopen the government, while Democrats refused to agree unless the measure included a one-year extension of ACA subsidies.<\/p>\n From the Senate Floor, Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) argued preserving the ACA was essential.<\/p>\n \u201cI must vote no [to reopen the government] because health care prices are so severe, so urgent, and so devastating for families back home,\u201d Schumer said. \u201cI cannot support this CR that fails to address the health care crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n The National Federation of Independent Business\u2019 optimism index fell 0.6 points in October, according to the report. The sharpest contributor to October\u2019s dip was a deterioration in earning trends, with 25% of owners reporting lower profits. NFIB\u2019s Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg reported the government shutdown likely played a role, as the Uncertainty Index fell 12 points to its lowest reading this year.<\/p>\n Despite the pullback, optimism among small businesses remains three points above the low from earlier this year and above its 52-year average of 98. Confidence hit its lowest point in April amid market volatility and tariff-related uncertainty, before rebounding midyear as conditions stabilized.<\/p>\n The labor market continues to frustrate small employers. Like last month, small businesses reported a tight labor market with labor quality remaining the most significant problem in October. Small businesses report struggling to compete with large corporations offering higher wages, signing bonuses, and more comprehensive benefits.<\/p>\n The gap is most apparent in skilled trades, where 28% of small businesses reported job openings they can\u2019t fill. Jobs for electricians, plumbers, welders, HVAC technicians, and construction workers are among the hardest to supply. Nearly half (49%)<\/a> of small businesses in the construction industry reported not being able to find construction workers.<\/p>\n This trend was years in the making. Fewer young people have pursued vocational programs and many older, experienced tradespeople have retired. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average age in the manufacturing industry is 44 and the average age<\/a> of a construction worker is 42, signaling an aging workforce.<\/p>\n