SAT . Sen. Lindsey Graham rejects calls to “extend the debacle called Obamacare” as Democrats keep refusing to vote for the Republican bill to reopen the government.

In a new development in the context of the US government shutdown, Senator Lindsey Graham strongly rejected the proposal from Democratic Senators to “extend the so-called disaster called the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)” until the Democrats agree to vote on the bill proposed by the Republicans to reopen the government.
Mr. Graham emphasized that the Republicans will not support extending the tax credits (subsidies) under the ACA for a year as proposed by the Democrats, because he believes that approach will continue to maintain a “broken” system and benefit insurance companies more than consumers.
Currently, the US federal government is temporarily shut down, as negotiations between Republicans and Democrats on the budget and spending have not reached an agreement. Democrats have proposed reopening the government by accepting a one-year extension of ACA tax credits, then continuing negotiations on broader reforms.

Republicans – led by Senator Graham and his allies – rejected that proposal, saying it would mean “extending” the ACA system, which they consider inefficient and costly.
Highlights from Graham’s speech
“We will not extend this program for another year because that would be unfair to taxpayers. That would continue a health care system that is out of control,” Graham said.
He said that if he accepted the extension, it would be “a boon for insurance companies” and “not a choice for consumers.”
He urged Democrats to “open up the government and act like adults, so we can put this in a better place.”

Significance and Impact
This issue highlights a deep political impasse: Democrats want to use reopening the government as a condition for retaining ACA support; while Republicans want to separate the budget-spending issue from the health issue and reject extending the ACA without broader reforms.

If the government continues to shut down, it will affect hundreds of thousands of federal workers, public services, and benefits like SNAP (food assistance), and the airline industry (flight cancellations) – which are reported as current.

In the long run, if Republicans stick to this position, it is possible that they will demand broader reforms to the health care system, rather than just “extending” the ACA. Conversely, if Democrats insist on retaining ACA support, the impasse could be prolonged.

Graham’s stance reflects a strategy: not to settle for a one-year extension but to demand fundamental changes to the health care system before taking any steps. This may be appreciated by those who favor deep reform, but it also risks undermining some of the support that exists for people if the stalemate drags on.

Senator Lindsey Graham is now the key player in the budget-healthcare negotiations. His rejection of the Democratic proposal to extend the ACA is a clear sign that Republicans want to keep the initiative in deciding how to reform the health care system, while warning that they will not be lured into a “temporary” deal without real change.