MTG 'warning about political consequences' as she bucks her party in brutal policy fight

It isn't often that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) quotes the ultra-MAGA Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia), who is a strong supporter of President Donald Trump and the America First agenda. But as the partial shutdown of the federal government rages on and lawmakers in Congress fight over a spending plan, Schumer is finding some rare common ground with her.

That common ground, according to The Hill's Nathaniel Weixel, not only shows Greene's willingness to buck her party during a key policy fight — it also threatens GOP unity during the shutdown.

At issue in the spending battle are subsidises for the Affordable Care Act of 2010, a.k.a. Obamacare. Schumer and other Democrats are warning that if ACA subsidies are not funded in 2026, millions of Americans will lose their health insurance. And Greene is also warning fellow Republicans against kicking Americans off of health care.

In an October 6 post on X, formerly Twitter, MTG criticized Obamacare but acknowledged that millions of Americans now rely on the ACA subsidies.

MTG tweeted, "As a matter of fact, the ACA made health insurance unaffordable for my family after it was passed, with skyrocketing premiums higher than our house payment. Let's just say as nicely as possible, I'm not a fan. But 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, along with all the wonderful families and hard-working people in my district. No I’m not towing the party line on this, or playing loyalty games. I'm a Republican and won't vote for illegals to have any tax payer funded healthcare or benefits. I'm America only[!] I'm carving my own lane[.] I'm absolutely disgusted that health insurance premiums will double if the tax credits expire this year."

Schumer, on the Senate floor, said, "Rep. Greene is absolutely right."

Weixel notes that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) was critical of Greene's comments, telling reporters, "Congresswoman Greene does not serve on the committees of jurisdiction to deal with those specialized issues."

Weixel reports, "Some Republican allies of Trump have been warning for months about the political consequences of failing to extend the enhanced subsidies, and Trump on Monday evening at the White House expressed an openness to working out an agreement on health care that could end the shutdown. Trump later seemed to backtrack, writing on his Truth Social platform that no deal would be done until Democrats vote to fund the government — which they say they won’t do without a deal on a permanent extension."

Read Nathaniel Weixel's full article for The Hill at this link.