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Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., fired back at CNBC host Joe Kernen over his question about Democrats’ demand for an extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies.
On Monday’s “Squawk Box,” Kernen requested Gallego why his celebration was demanding $1.5 trillion in federal spending if his aim was solely to make sure Americans’ medical insurance premiums do not improve.
“But what’s the $1.5 trillion, Senator?” Kernen stated. “You could extend those for one year, you could extend the Obamacare subsidies for $40 billion. For 10 years, you can do it for [$340] billion. You’re asking for $1.5 trillion.”
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CNBC host Joe Kernen claimed the Democratic Party was demanding $1.5 trillion {dollars} to reopen the federal government. (Probal Rashid/LightRocket by way of Getty Images)
“I’m sorry, are you an insurance broker?” Gallego responded.
“I don’t…that’s not germane to this, Senator,” Kernen remarked as Gallego repeatedly requested him if he was an insurance coverage dealer.
“Are you an insurance broker?” Kernen shot back.
“No, but I actually understand that I would first go talk to them,” Gallego stated.
Kernen repeated his question, asking why Democrats have been “demanding” $1.5 trillion to reopen the federal government.
“We’re not demanding anything,” Gallego stated. “This is just a Republican talking point. All I want is for the [Affordable Care Act] to be extended for Americans so 24 million people do not get their premiums doubled. That’s what I’m asking for.”
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Arizona Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego defended Democrats’ efforts to increase Obamacare subsidies. (Go Nakamura/Reuters)
Earlier within the interview, Gallego and Kernen additionally argued over Democrats refusing to vote on House Speaker Mike Johnson’s invoice to proceed funding the federal government.
“Well, because he gave the president the power to decide which employee was essential or not,” Gallego stated. “And like, let’s be honest, this president is quite temperamental. He acts like a child. He’s very petty. And if you give him that power, he would use it in a petty, temperamental, childlike way.”
“Senator, I guess the critics of Democrats would say it’s similar here,” Kernen stated. “You’re talking about a clean bill. The continued resolution is a clean resolution, same as the one that was in March. And all along, it looked like that was going to be sufficient to get enough votes to pass. And it’s just not…”
“I’m sorry, to who? I’m sorry, that’s never been in my position,” Gallego stated.
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The Democratic Party has demanded an extension on Obamacare subsidies in change for opening the federal govenrment. (Getty Images)
In a remark to Fox News Digital, Gallego press secretary Jacques Petit stated, “Senator Gallego will not back down at Republicans allowing health insurance premiums to skyrocket for 24 million Americans.”
Nov. 1 marks the primary day of open enrollment for Obamacare, also called the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Democrats have warned for weeks that healthcare premium costs are anticipated to skyrocket for Americans who depend on this system if Obamacare subsidies that have been enhanced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, set to run out at the top of 2025, are usually not prolonged.
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That extension has emerged as Democrats’ essential demand within the shutdown combat, now in its fourth week. Democrats have largely refused to conform to any spending invoice that doesn’t lengthen the subsidies.
Fox News’ Alex Miller, Elizabeth Elkind and Leo Briceno contributed to this report.