Angus King on ACA Fight: Shutdowns Don't Work, Democrats Will Fight On

The ACA Shutdown Strategy

• 🎯 Senator Angus King explains his initial vote for a continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government, stating that government shutdowns serve no useful purpose.
• 💡 He believed the shutdown wouldn't force Republicans to negotiate on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and feared it would grant the administration powers to enact harmful policies, such as cutting SNAP benefits.
• ⚠️ King likens the shutdown strategy to "standing up to a bully by giving him another weapon," which he felt was counterproductive.

Evaluating the Shutdown's Effectiveness

• 📉 King asserts that the shutdown did not achieve its intended goal of forcing negotiations on the ACA, a strategy he opposed from the outset.
• 📊 He notes that even a simple one-year extension of funding proposed by Senator Schumer faced zero interest from Republican senators.
• 💔 King highlights the significant collateral damage caused by the shutdown, including impacts on SNAP recipients and air traffic controllers, without yielding the desired results.

The Path Forward

• 🔄 King believes that when a strategy isn't working and is causing harm, it's time to change tactics.
• ⚔️ He acknowledges his colleagues' desire to make a stand but emphasizes the lack of evidence that continuing the shutdown would alter the Republican position.
• 💡 While he doesn't view the situation as a win or loss, King believes Democrats fought valiantly and will continue to fight for the ACA on different grounds, recognizing its serious importance.