Even before the federal government shut down Wednesday, Democratic and Republican lawmakers in South Florida were engaging in partisan finger pointing on who's to blame for the legislative standoff.
鈥淧resident [Donald] Trump could have stopped this shutdown, but he chose not to,鈥� said U.S. Rep Frederica Wilson, a Miami Democrat, in a hours before Congress failed to reach an agreement to keep funding the federal government. "It's a Trump shutdown."
鈥淢ake no mistake: this is a Schumer-led shutdown,鈥� U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a Miami Republican, said in a earlier this week. "The Democrats are in total disarray, obsessed with President Trump instead of governing. Shutdowns are devastating for our troops, veterans, and national security.鈥�
The latest from Washington shows little signs the impasse can be resolved anytime soon between Democrats and Republicans. The House, Senate and White House are controlled by Republicans.
A vote to end the hours after it began failed Wednesday, as Democrats in the Senate held firm to the party鈥檚 demands to subsidies that and Republicans refuse to extend.
The tally showed cracks in the Democrats鈥� resolve, but . Blame was being cast on all sides on the first day of the shutdown. The White House and Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep programs and services open, throwing the country into a new cycle of uncertainty.
At issue are tax credits that have made health insurance through the Affordable Care Act more affordable for millions of people since the COVID-19 pandemic. The credits are set to expire at the end of the year if Congress doesn鈥檛 extend them 鈥� which would more than double what subsidized enrollees currently pay for health insurance premiums, according to a KFF analysis.
It's an especially critical issue in Florida, including South Florida. The state, which has almost , has the highest ACA participation in the country. And one of every five Florida enrollees is from Miami-Dade.
Here is what South Florida lawmakers are saying on X, formerly Twitter, about the federal government shutdown.
U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R鈭扚ort Pierce
Every day Senate Democrats refuse to come to the table and end this federal shutdown, America鈥檚 servicemembers suffer. This Schumer Shutdown needs to end now.
— Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast)
U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D鈭扢iramar
While shutdowns are not new, each time it happens, it sends the same painful message: too often, leaders in Washington put ego and politics ahead of the people we are meant to serve.
— Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (@CongresswomanSC)
Read the full statement at the link in bio.
U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R鈭扢iami
The Democrats just SHUT DOWN your government because they refused to pass a clean bill to extend funding.
— Rep. Mar铆a Elvira Salazar (@RepMariaSalazar)
Why? To force their partisan wish list. Troops lose pay. Families lose services. America loses billions.
This isn鈥檛 leadership, it鈥檚 chaos.
U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R鈭扢iami
馃毃What have the woke Democrats in Congress achieved by shutting the government down?
— Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos)
1) Forced thousands of federal employees to work without knowing when they will get paid.
2) Weakened America鈥檚 standing abroad
3) Damaged the US economy
This is costly political theater!
U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D鈭扺est Palm Beach
Democrats have been clear for months鈥攚e want to keep the government open while addressing the Republican health care crisis.
— Rep. Lois Frankel (@RepLoisFrankel)
Premiums go up by $500 on average in PBC if ACA aid expires.
Our position is simple: cancel the cuts, lower the costs, save health care.
U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Parkland
Democrats are at the table to keep the government open and protect lower health care premiums. House Republicans are refusing to do both.
— Congressman Jared Moskowitz (@RepMoskowitz)
Families can't afford higher costs or a government shutdown.
