House Democrats Say Restoring Health Care Cuts a Non-Negotiable on Government Funding

House Democrats are making health care cuts a red line in their negotiations with Republicans on funding the government.

Rep. Pete Aguilar, who chairs the House Democratic Caucus, told reporters Democrats would support a funding bill that “meets the needs of the American public” pointing to health care cuts specifically.

“Over 15 million Americans are now getting kicked off of health care,” Aguilar said during the press conference. “On top of that, 24 million Americans who buy their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act will see those costs go up by as much as 75%. These might sound like big numbers, but they have very real consequences.”

“If Republicans are serious about a spending plan, they would work with Democrats in order to meet their needs,” Aguilar added. “Time and time again, we are seeing priorities that are out of line with what the American people want, including what they released this weekend in gutting health care within the Labor-HHS bill that is coming before the appropriations committee.”

Aguilar’s comments echo House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ comments from earlier in the day when he told Democrats at a closed door caucus meeting they wouldn’t vote for a bill that “cuts health care” for Americans, according to a source in the room.

“Republicans know that they need to work with us, and we stand ready to do that,” Aguilar added. “If they want a shutdown, then [Republicans] have the ability to put one forward.”

Some Democrats have indicated an openness to working across the aisle on a spending bill but many said they also were concerned about health care cuts. Rep. Seth Magaziner told NOTUS Tuesday that his personal red line was also the extension of the Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire.

Speaker Mike Johnson has said that he is in touch with Jeffries, but Republicans are also already pointing fingers at Democrats on a potential shutdown.

“The American people are scared right now,” said Rep. Steven Horsford at the press conference with Aguilar. “They’re scared because congressional Republicans have cut health care to the bone to fund tax breaks for corporations and the ultra rich. Millions of Americans are now one diagnosis, one broken bone and one unexpected illness away from financial ruin.”