The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board is calling on Congressional Republicans to put an end to health care subsidies linked to ObamaCare as they work towards resolving the ongoing government shutdown, now entering its fourth week.
“Even with Democrats historically holding sway over healthcare, many voters might now be realizing, perhaps for the first time in years, that the Affordable Care Act has actually worsened and increased the cost of care,” stated the Journal in an editorial piece released on Tuesday.
The publication criticized Democrats for allegedly trying to pressure the GOP into continuing enhanced ObamaCare subsidies, initially introduced as temporary aid during the pandemic.
“Should taxpayers—many of whom already fund their own work-related insurance—also support early retirements for baby boomers? The political dynamics here might not be as clear-cut as Democrats believe,” the Journal contended.
Over a decade since the landmark health care law was established, the outlet, owned by Rupert Murdoch, noted that it remains “a product few people find worth purchasing unless they’re shielded from its costs.”
“The political and media landscape has evolved over the past decade,” the Journal observed, adding that “an overlooked aspect of the shutdown is whether Republicans will re-engage in the healthcare debate and highlight ObamaCare’s shortcomings.”
Since President Donald Trump took office in January, the Journal has been sharply critical of the new administration and urged Republicans in Congress to push back on the president’s policies on issues ranging from trade to federal law enforcement and matters of national security.
