Senate Republican Condemns ‘Schumer Shutdown’ Over Healthcare Subsidy Dispute

By Sam Barron | Wednesday, 08 October 2025 09:22 PM EDT
The government shutdown is being driven by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who is bowing to the radical left of his party, Senator Roger Marshall, R-Kan., alleged on Newsmax.

Speaking on “Rob Schmitt Tonight,” Marshall dismissed Democratic claims that the shutdown centers on reducing healthcare costs for Americans. He criticized Democrats’ push to extend expiring tax credits for Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace insurance as misguided.

“The problem with the ACA is it’s unaffordable, and the subsidies are riddled with fraud due to its flawed structure,” Marshall stated. He labeled the shutdown the “Schumer shutdown,” asserting that Schumer was pressured by his party’s far-left faction to force a government closure.

Marshall accused Democrats of abruptly shifting their stance two weeks before the shutdown, demanding action on expiring subsidies. “Even if we wanted to fix them, it would take at least a month to address the fraud,” he said. He predicted marketplace premiums would rise 18% to 20%, blaming the ACA’s “failed policies” and overregulation for industry consolidation.

The Kansas senator highlighted that two or three insurance companies dominate 90% of state markets, along with concentrated hospital systems. Marshall proposed legislation requiring hospitals to disclose costs upfront, comparing it to restaurant pricing transparency. He also advocated expanding healthcare savings accounts to empower patients as consumers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.