Stefany Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat running for Congress and the daughter of retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, has condemned the shutdown deal that her mother helped to craft.
“I cannot support this deal when [House] Speaker [Mike] Johnson refuses to even allow a vote to extend health care tax credits,” the senator’s daughter said on social media. “Too many people will see health care costs that are already too high skyrocket even further starting in January. This means more people will be uninsured, unable to see a doctor in times of need and risk bankruptcy because of a diagnosis.”
Voicing her opposition goes against her mother, who was one of eight Senate Democrats who approved the shutdown deal, because the deal doesn’t include the provision to extend federal health care subsidies.
Stefany Shaheen called to end the shutdown and extend the subsidies: “Otherwise, no deal.” She is one of many Democrats who have criticized the deal.
The Washington Times has reached out to Jeanne Shaheen’s office.
The new deal to end the longest shutdown in history gives Democrats control of the Senate floor, Jeanne Shaheen said in a statement.
“Let’s be clear: This is a major step that was not predetermined. I have spent years as the lead sponsor of this legislation. There is no one in the Senate who wants to see these tax credits extended more than me,” she said. “But weeks of negotiations with Republicans have made clear that they will not address health care as part of shutdown talks — and that waiting longer will only prolong the pain Americans are feeling because of the shutdown.”
When the government shut down on Oct. 1, Jeanne Shaheen called for an agreement to extend subsidies as soon as possible. She led the legislation to establish the subsidies in 2019.
Democrats have filibustered a Republican-backed and House-passed government funding measure, demanding that enhanced health care subsidies be extended. They are set to expire at the end of the year, and rates are set to skyrocket without more subsidies.
Republicans have refused to negotiate until the government is reopened.
A staunch supporter of medical research and innovation, Stefany Shaheen is running in the Democratic primary to replace Rep. Chris Pappas, a Democrat who is running for the Senate seat being vacated by Jeanne Shaheen.
