With a Jan. 30 deadline looming to fund much of the federal government, progressive and liberal lawmakers are urging Democrat leaders to use the threat of a shutdown as leverage against President Donald Trump — especially after enhanced Obamacare subsidies expired at the end of 2025, driving up insurance premiums for millions of Americans.
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According to The Hill, some Democrats believe they “won” last fall’s 43-day shutdown by focusing attention on healthcare costs, arguing that the political math still favors them ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Liberal groups such as Indivisible are pressing Democrats to “use every lever available,” with Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., among those leaving the door open to another funding showdown tied to restoring the expired Affordable Care Act tax credits.
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But the fight is already spilling into the House.
CNN reported Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is required to hold a floor vote this week on a Democrat proposal to extend the ACA premium subsidies for three years after moderate Republicans joined Democrats on a discharge petition.
The move reflects a rare rebellion from GOP centrists who were irate over the credits’ expiration, even as conservative lawmakers object to simply extending subsidies without reforms.
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At the same time, lawmakers face multiple flashpoints beyond funding.
CBS News noted Congress is returning amid rising tensions over Venezuela and renewed scrutiny of the Justice Department’s handling of the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein files rollout, creating a combustible environment for negotiations.
Republicans on Capitol Hill argue Democrats are looking for political theater, using threats of shutdowns to distract from their own failures on spending and inflation while trying to revive a subsidy system that critics say was never properly paid for long-term.
Funding progress has been made, but not enough to guarantee smooth passage.
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Yet Democrats have not signed onto a broader deal, and their votes may be needed in the Senate and potentially the House if conservatives balk.
Johnson’s narrow margin is also shrinking, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., leaving her seat Monday, reducing the GOP majority to just two votes. That could empower Democrats to extract concessions, especially if Republicans cannot unify.
For conservatives, the looming showdown underscores a familiar pattern: Democrats threatening shutdowns to force expansion of federal benefits and spending, while Republicans scramble to keep government functioning under pressure.
* Original Article:
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/congress-government-shutdown-deadline/2026/01/05/id/1240813/
