Late Wednesday President Trump signed a government funding package at the White House to formally end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
The bill was passed by the House and Senate earlier this week, bringing an end to a 43-day standoff, with the outcome falling mostly along party lines. Only a small group of eight Democrat senators teamed up with Republicans to reopen the government
Most House Democrats opposed the legislation, claiming it doesn’t address expiring health care tax credits for millions of people. This seemed to be the focus of the party’s shutdown demands.
The debate centers around a provision in a recent Republican tax and spending law that restricted eligibility for ACA subsidies and other federal health programs for some categories of “lawfully present” immigrants. A “lawfully present” immigrant is not yet a U.S. citizen but has the legal right to be in the country.
Democrats wanted to reverse the restrictions on coverage for “lawfully present immigrants” and extend the ACA tax credits, which they argue would prevent premiums from skyrocketing. Republicans didn’t go for it; and most of them didn’t accept the explanation. They say Democrats kept the government shut down to fight for free healthcare for illegal aliens. They framed the Democratic position as advocating for “taxpayer-funded health benefits for illegals.”