These voters know who they blame for government dysfunction

An election worker prepares absentee ballots for the upcoming general election before they are mailed to voters, at Wake County Board of Elections headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S. September 5, 2024. REUTERS/Jonathan Drake/File Photo

The United States' federal government remains partially shut down as Republicans and Democrats continue to fight over spending. Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) are echoing President Donald Trump's claim that Democratic lawmakers shut down the government in order to fund health care for undocumented immigrants, but many Democrats are pushing back against that lie — as giving Affordable Care Act or Obamacare subsidies to someone who is in the country illegally would be a violation of federal law.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York), meanwhile, are warning that if Congress fails to fund Obamacare subsidies, millions of Americans won't be able to afford health insurance in 2026.

The Washington Post spoke to more than 1000 voters for a poll on the shutdown released in early October — and found that significantly more Americans blame President Donald Trump and GOP lawmakers rather than Democrats for the partial shutdown.

"People express moderate concern about the shutdown's impact at this early stage, with 'somewhat concerned' the most common answer," the Post reports. "A large majority support Democrats' call to extend federal health insurance subsidies in general, though just under half support the party demanding this if it extends the government shutdown."

The Post asked participants: "Who do you think is mainly responsible for the federal government partially shutting down?" And 47 percent said "Trump and Republicans in Congress," while only 30 percent blamed "Democrats in Congress" and 23 percent replied "not sure."

"In an open-ended question," the Post explains, "those blaming Trump and Republicans cited a refusal to compromise, the party's control of the presidency and Congress, and Trump's actions. People who blamed Democrats also criticized the party for refusing to compromise or said that they always oppose Trump's actions. Some also echoed false claims by Trump and Republicans that Democratic lawmakers are trying to force the government to offer full health care benefits to people who are in the country illegally."

Read the full Washington Post report at this link.

From Your Site Articles