LEGISLATIVE CALLS TO ACTION -- October 8, 2025

What has caused the government shutdown?

from Jess Craven at Chop Wood Carry Water

Trifecta dynamics: The standoff is occurring with Republicans controlling the House, Senate, and White House, a governing "trifecta". Democrats are using their power in the Senate—where most legislation requires 60 votes to pass—to demand that Republicans negotiate on their terms.

The Democrats are using the need for 60 votes in the Senate to pass the Continuing Resolution to demand a permanent extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies and the reversal of health care provisions from the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act".

Why is this so important? If Congress does not extend the enhanced premium tax credits immediately, four million people will lose their health care and 24 million Americans will see their costs skyrocket. Current estimates show Americans would see their out-of-pocket premiums increase by 114% -- more than double -- if Republicans refuse to act.

Republican Lie: “Democrats are shutting down the government to provide health care to illegal immigrants.” - Jess Craven

Facts:

Undocumented immigrants are not eligible to enroll in Medicare and Medicaid, and they are also not eligible to purchase coverage on the ACA Marketplace.

Republicans continue to knowingly lie about eligibility for these programs with the hope that repeating this lie will keep the American people from realizing that their very own health care is under attack.

The over 24 million people who rely on the ACA are not illegal immigrants or fraudsters, they are working people and families with no other access to affordable insurance. Nearly 90 percent of the total growth in the ACA Marketplace since 2020 has occurred in states that Trump won during the 2024 election. Nearly half of the small business owners and employees in America buy their coverage through the ACA, as do over 25 percent of American farmers, and the vast majority of these people purchase their coverage using enhanced premium tax credits.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 

Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.

I’m calling to urge the Senator to oppose any federal budget deal that doesn’t extend the ACA premium tax credits and stop Trump’s illegal budget cuts and impoundments. Congress needs to hold firm during this shut down and refuse to give yet another blank check to an authoritarian.

What is Congress doing?

The House is still enjoying Speaker Johnson's gift of an extended vacation. Why has the House stopped doing any work? Because Johnson believes this adds pressure on the Senate to pass his version of the continuing resolution and prevents the swearing in of Adelita Grijalva, the new representative for AZ-7 (she was elected to replace her father who died earlier this year) which prevents the 218th signature on the discharge petition that would then require a vote on a resolution demanding the release of files on Jeffrey Epstein.

The Senate is in session this week and is expected to vote to confirm a block of about 100 administration nominees at some point this week along with many committee meetings. They will continue to vote on the continuing resolution. (Govtrack.us).