1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

The government shutdown is causing American families real pain, and needlessly so. But while that pain is real, and likely to increase, a rush to settlement of the issues at stake will have greater long term consequences for our democracy. Accordingly, I write to request that no deal be stuck to end the shutdown unless the ACA subsidies are agreed to in the deal to reopen the government. A vote in December in the Senate -- even if it happens -- is a far cry from actually locking in the extensions. And if that isn’t locked in, all we are doing is postponing the time when millions of people are going to lose their health insurance - and giving the republicans cover from owning it (which they clearly do now). I understand you are facing immense pressure to resolve the shutdown. But this is all part of the Republican’s scheme. Just say, “No”. And we’ll back you.