As the Senate gears up to vote on an extension for expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies—a vote many expect to fail—it’s tempting to wonder what the point of the shutdown was. But the Democrats were right to fight for these healthcare subsidies. By almost every measure, their party is better off for having done so.
For most of the year, Democrats have enjoyed little leverage in responding to President Trump’s outrageous acts. They can’t influence reconciliation bills, executive actions or nominations. The vote on the continuing resolution was only the second time this year that Democrats in Congress had leverage with Republicans. The resulting shutdown was important not only on the substance, but for an anti-Trump opposition that had been struggling to find its voice.
The above excerpt was originally published in The Wall Street Journal .
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