Harger: Day 22 of government shutdown, Congress gets paid while 1.4M workers suffer

Day 22 of the government shutdown, and if you’re wondering how we got here, it’s simple: Republicans control the House, Senate, and White House, but they still need 60 votes in the Senate to pass anything. Democrats have just enough senators to block, and they’re using it.

The Republican position? “We’ve passed a clean funding bill 11 times. Democrats keep blocking it because they want healthcare subsidies extended. This is extortion. Open the government first, then we’ll talk healthcare.”

The Democratic position? “Those Affordable Care Act subsidies expire Nov. 1. Twenty-four million people are about to see their premiums double. Also, you cut Medicaid in July. Fix it now, or we don’t budge.”

Both sides are right, both sides are wrong

You know what? They’re both right. And they’re both being ridiculous.

Keep in mind, recent polling shows 77% of all Americans, including 56% of Trump supporters, want these subsidies extended.

Republicans, you control everything. You could include the healthcare stuff and pass it tomorrow. Yes, it would feel like giving in to Democratic demands, but you’re the majority. How about you rename a few provisions, add a requirement to audit the system to find inefficiencies, approve it, and say, “We fixed the Democrats’ mess.” Your base will eat it up.

Democrats, you’re blocking paychecks for 1.4 million workers to protect healthcare subsidies. Yes, healthcare is important. Yes, those premium hikes would hurt people. But you’re literally stopping paychecks today to prevent premium increases next month. How about letting the paychecks flow and making this a campaign issue? “Republicans doubled your premiums” writes itself.

And let’s be real: Both parties are reading from the other side’s old playbook. In the 2018 shutdown, Democrats begged Republicans to think about federal workers. Now Republicans are begging Democrats to think about federal workers. Back then, Republicans said the wall was worth the fight. Now Democrats say healthcare is worth the fight. You’ve all swapped jerseys and pretend we don’t notice.

While Congress debates, workers decide which bill to skip

Healthcare IS important. Keeping the government open IS important. But while you’re having this philosophical debate, 80,000 federal employees in Washington state alone are having a different debate: which bill to skip this month.

And remember, furloughed federal workers will eventually get their back pay. It’s the law. But the contractors, the people who clean the offices, run the cafeterias, and provide security? They’re just out of luck. Those paychecks are gone forever.

To any functional adult remaining in Congress: Turn off the cable news. Meet face to face. Skip the press conference. Do the math. Then keep the government open.

Day 22 and counting.

Fun fact: Members of Congress never miss a paycheck during shutdowns.

Sure makes it easier to take principled stands when the principle doesn’t cost you anything.

That’s the commentary for Oct. 22. Text us at (888) 973-5476 or leave a comment at MyNorthwest.

Charlie Harger is the host of “Seattle’s Morning News” on KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of his stories and commentaries here. Follow Charlie on X and email him here. 

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