Orange County's Mixed Reactions to Government Reopening Deal

The recent deal to end the longest government shutdown in U. S. history has sparked a wave of criticism from many House Democrats, particularly those representing Orange County. The bipartisan agreement, which aims to restart federal services and provide backpay to furloughed workers, has been met with skepticism due to its lack of immediate action on expiring health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Several Orange County Democratic representatives, including Mike Levin, Dave Min, Linda Sánchez, and Derek Tran, have expressed their dissatisfaction with the deal. They argue that the promise of a future vote on health care subsidies is insufficient and does not address the urgent needs of their constituents. Sánchez criticized the deal for not lowering health care costs or expanding access, while Levin questioned the reliability of House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring the issue to a vote. The deal also faced opposition from California's Democratic senators, Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, who chose not to support it. Meanwhile, Rep. Lou Correa of Santa Ana remained non-committal, awaiting further developments, and Rep. Young Kim, the sole Republican representative from Orange County, announced her support for the deal. Kim blamed Democrats for the shutdown and emphasized the need to reopen the government. The health care subsidies in question are crucial for low- and middle-income individuals who purchase insurance through state or federal marketplaces. Without an extension, the cost of coverage could more than double next year, according to a KFF analysis. A recent KFF survey revealed strong public support for extending these subsidies, with 74% of respondents in favor. However, support among Republicans has declined since the last survey. The potential impact of not extending these subsidies is significant. Approximately 600, 000 Californians who obtain insurance through Covered California could lose their coverage, with a nationwide figure of about 5 million. This underscores the urgency of addressing the issue for many Americans.