Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) concurred with rival Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R-GA) on keeping Obamacare subsidies, adding that their agreement shows “how bad” the government shutdown is.
Crockett and Greene are known for their viral feuds — one such moment being the Texas representative’s “bleach-blonde, bad-built, butch-body” comment about Greene — but both have pushed back on the lack of a plan to keep health insurance premium tax credits from expiring.
“Some people in this building know that I have a best friend by the name of Marjorie Taylor Greene,” she said on Wednesday.
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“She even recently stated, ‘I’m going to go against everyone on this issue because when the tax credits expire this year, my own adult children’s insurance premiums for 2026 are going to double.’ Now, the fact that Marjorie and I agree on anything tells you how bad this is,” Crockett continued.
Crockett then pressed the public to call House Republicans and tell them to “show up and do their jobs.”
The government shutdown is now in its eighth day, with no end in sight. A Republican-backed funding resolution passed the House but has yet to meet the 60-vote threshold to be approved by the Senate.
Senate Democrats voted to block the bill again on Wednesday, 54-45. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) was absent, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) continued to vote against it, and just three Senate Democrats of the caucus backed it.
Most Senate Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), have noted the lack of the premium tax credits in their refusal to back the bill.
Greene expressed her support for health insurance premium tax credits on Monday, drawing praise from Democrats for mirroring their resistance to the Republican funding resolution. She also expressed frustration with the lack of a plan from Republicans toward minimizing the premium cost impact.
“Not a single Republican in leadership talked to us about this or has given us a plan to help Americans deal with their health insurance premiums DOUBLING!!!” she said.
Greene redirected the blame toward Democrats on Wednesday for the original Obamacare plan but continued to press Republicans on the lack of an alternative. “The ACA (Obamacare) was passed in 2010 by Democrats, which created the healthcare crisis we are now in,” she wrote on X. “The results have been insurers leaving the market place, premiums skyrocketing, and the level of care dropping. D’s want to keep funding it and R’s have no new solution.”
President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that negotiations with Democrats could include the subsidies.
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“We have a negotiation going on with the Democrats that could lead to good things,” Trump said. “And I’m talking about good things with regard to healthcare.”
KFF estimates that if the tax credits expire at the end of this year, “out-of-pocket premiums would rise by over 75% on average for the vast majority of individuals and families buying coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplaces.”
