Senator Ron Johnson on Government Shutdowns and Obamacare

The Looming Government Shutdown

• ⚠️ A government shutdown is imminent unless Democrats and Republicans agree on federal funding, with Democrats demanding an additional $1.5 trillion in spending.
• 💡 Senator Johnson proposes the Eliminate Shutdowns Act, which would automatically enact 14-day continuing appropriations at the previous year's funding level if no agreement is reached, thereby removing the drama and fiscal cliffs associated with shutdowns.
• 📉 The current dysfunction in Congress is described as profound and grotesque, with Democrats using continuing resolutions as a negotiation tactic for increased spending.

The Eliminate Shutdowns Act

• 🛠️ This proposed act aims to prevent government shutdowns by continuing funding at the previous year's level, allowing Congress to work on appropriation bills individually.
• 🎯 The goal is to eliminate the drama and partisanship surrounding funding debates, allowing for more focused work on appropriations and potential budget reforms.
• 📊 Johnson argues that the current system, with frequent shutdowns and continuing resolutions, has contributed to the national debt increasing from $14 trillion to $37 trillion.

Obamacare and Healthcare Costs

• 🏥 Senator Johnson asserts that Obamacare's faulty design is the root cause of high healthcare and insurance costs for individuals on the market.
• 💸 He criticizes the extension of temporary COVID ACA subsidies, citing massive fraud where individuals are enrolled without their knowledge, leading to tens of billions of dollars in taxpayer losses.
• 📈 Johnson contends that Obamacare forced the cost of covering pre-existing conditions onto a small percentage of people, driving up premiums, and that solutions like high-risk pools were more effective and less costly.
• 🚫 He opposes perpetuating fraud by extending subsidies and believes the focus should be on bringing down healthcare costs through reasonable means, not by throwing more money at a flawed system.