Democrats across the party’s ideological spectrum slammed an emerging deal to end the country’s largest government shutdown as a betrayal on Sunday night, arguing a deal cut by Senate moderates falls well short of the party’s goals and gives up political leverage.
Notably, the harshest critiques came from elected officials and candidates with little say in the deal and thus little to lose by criticizing it.
The deal, which would end a shutdown now causing widespread flight delays and empowering President Donald Trump’s administration to put food aid at risk, would promise Democrats a future vote in the Senate on extending Obamacare subsidies ― a vote almost guaranteed to fail ― in exchange for reopening the government.
The haul seems paltry for the end of a 40-day shutdown that polls indicate most voters are blaming on Republicans and which party strategists have said has successfully raised the salience of health care, an issue where Democrats have major advantages over the GOP.
“A deal that doesn’t reduce health care costs is a betrayal of millions of Americans counting on Democrats to fight for them,” said Rep. Greg Cesar (D-Texas), the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. “Republicans want health care cuts. Accepting nothing but a pinky promise from Republicans isn’t a compromise — it’s capitulation. Millions of families would pay the price.”
