Collins called recent immigration operations "too sweeping and indiscriminate." She told Maine Public Radio she received calls from constituents afraid and angry because the operation was sweeping up people who are in the U.S. legally.
Covering this deadlock as an ordinary debate between good-faith opponents is a betrayal of the truth. The fact is that the Republican Party put out a hit on the ACA ever since it was rolled out. Besides the utter ignorance of the current president, their primary weapon has been the Health Saving Account, one of those movement conservative notions based on the premise that everyone should have the freedom to be driven into bankruptcy by unforeseen circumstances.
The Senate is set to vote today on two health policy plans one from Democrats and one from Republicans aimed at reducing costs for individuals purchasing health insurance on Healthcare.gov. Meanwhile, some House Republicans want to force a vote to extend subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, which are set to expire in less than three weeks. They warn that Republican leaders risk losing voters and the majority if they let the subsidies expire without a replacement.
Chuck Schumer couldn't hold his senators together at a time when their unity and toughness were essential. And at a time when they were winning: most of the public was blaming Republicans for the shutdown, and pressure was growing to reopen the government (flight delays were mounting). Does this mean Schumer should go? Yes. But the issue runs deeper. There's a fundamental asymmetry at the heart of American politics. Democrats are undisciplined. Republicans are regimented.
Democrats dominated the first major Election Day since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. And while a debate about the future of the Democratic Party may have only just begun, there are signs that the economy - specifically, Trump's inability to deliver the economic turnaround he promised last fall - may be a real problem for Trump's GOP heading into next year's higher-stakes midterm elections.
They're already paying $2,000 a month with $10,000 deductibles. I'm getting phone calls from people that are saying if the ACA tax credits expire, they aren't going to be able to have health insurance.
