Eight Democratic senators joined most Senate Republicans late Sunday night to pass a short-term funding bill aimed at ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
However, Minnesota’s Democratic senators, Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, strongly opposed the agreement. Sen. Tina Smith called the measure a “mistake,” saying it fails to address rising health care costs.
“I will not support this bill that completely fails to help Americans afford their health care,” Smith wrote on social media. “Trump and Republicans more than doubled Americans’ health care premiums. And for 40 days they have refused to lift a finger to do a thing about it. In fact, they’ve made it worse, by taking food away from kids. Allowing this to pass is a mistake.”
The vote followed 14 failed Senate attempts to move legislation forward, largely due to disputes over health insurance tax credits under the Affordable Care Act, which are set to expire at year’s end.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar also voted against the bill, saying it does not prevent health insurance premiums from doubling for millions of Americans.
“Lowering costs is the top priority for the American people,” Klobuchar stated. “The President and Congressional Republicans should have come to the table to work with us to lower these costs. In every other budget impasse or shutdown there were negotiations and compromise with the White House. I am committed to lowering health care costs and will do everything I can to get this done.”
The 60–40 vote saw eight Democrats side with nearly all Republicans to advance the resolution. While the deal includes three longer-term appropriations bills and ensures back pay for federal workers, it does not guarantee an extension of the ACA tax credits.
As part of the agreement, Senate Republicans pledged to hold a future vote on extending the health insurance subsidies, though most have already signaled their opposition. House Speaker Mike Johnson urged lawmakers to return to Capitol Hill “right now” to finalize the deal.
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