Government Shutdown: Now the Shoe is on the Other Foot

Doug Smith

October 11, 2025

As I write this, the US government is still shut down, hurting our fellow citizens in the federal workforce, and hurting us all in reducing services that we need and expect from our government. Why is this happening? Well, it shouldn’t be. When Congress passes a law, it should guarantee that the cost of that law will be paid on time and in full. The “debt ceiling” should not prevent the Treasury from paying the nation’s bills. But back in the 1990’s, Republicans in Congress decided to weaponize debt ceiling votes by holding the nation hostage to their demands.

Now the shoe is on the other foot. It’s not over tax cuts for billionaires or border wall funding, as past shutdowns have been. Now it’s about healthcare for everyday Americans, about your right to live without fear of medical bankruptcy. Democrats in Congress are trying to undo some of the damage done in the “Big Beautiful Bill” passed earlier this year, which made massive cuts in Medicaid, including cuts to Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire at the end of this year. Until the Republicans are willing to negotiate these healthcare issues, Democrats are refusing to vote for a continuing resolution to keep the government running.

Why didn’t Democrats fight this at the time, when the “BBB” was passed? Because they didn’t have the numbers. It only took 51 votes in the Senate to pass it, and there are 53 Republican Senators. You may recall back on May 30^th, Sen. Joni Ernst was quite callous about the impact of these “BBB” provisions. When someone pointed out at the Parkersburg town hall meeting (which I attended) “people are going to die”, she replied “we’re all going to die.” Where was this now-claimed willingness to negotiate over healthcare funding then? If a “clean” continuing resolution passes now without healthcare negotiations, there will never be healthcare negotiations. Republicans are like Lucy with the football, telling Charlie Brown that THIS TIME they really will negotiate. If Democrats cave, they will pull that “football” away again.

By contrast, the debt ceiling resolution bill needs 60 votes to pass, so Democrats now have the negotiating power to try to help the millions of Americans who are depending on Medicaid and the ACA. With Republicans holding the presidency and both houses of Congress, it’s ludicrous to blame this shutdown on the Democrats! As of this writing, Democrats are continuing to hold the line, to help the millions of Americans who are depending on Medicaid and the ACA.

But watch out! Given the authoritarian impulses of President Trump, who knows what mischief he and his minions will do while the shutdown battle is being fought. Sadly, this is what the majority of American voters voted for last November. I can only assume they wanted polarization and stalemate. I wish I knew why.

This was originally published in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier and on Doug Smith’s Substack at: https://substack.com/@dougsmith801323.