Florida Democrats are not happy with the deal by Congress to open the federal government and say it is “not a real solution” and that “Americans deserve healthcare.”
“A temporary deal to end the shutdown without healthcare is not a real solution,” stated Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried. “4.7 million of Floridians are still at risk of losing their health care in 2026.”
Orlando Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost also reacted when the Senate finally passed the funding deal, saying the political fight was supposed to be about addressing the urgency of rising health care costs, but instead the Senate gave up. “This deal fails our communities who elected us to stand up for them, but the fight isn’t over,” Representative Maxwell Frost said. “I am a NO on any vote that raises premiums for nearly one in four people in my district. I believe that in the richest country on the face of the Earth, families deserve to get the care they need when they need it—and I will fight like hell to make that a reality.”
After the House passage of the stopgap funding bill to temporarily keep the government funded through the end of January and reopen the government, Florida Democrats and Congressman Maxwell Frost took on Republicans.
“After weeks of Republican chaos, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history is finally over, but working families are still paying the price. This short-term deal isn’t a win for Americans; it’s just a stopgap,” FDP Chair Nikki Fried stated. “Without an extension of the Affordable Care Act subsidies, millions of Americans will see their premiums double, forcing many to lose their coverage entirely. At a time when Floridians are already facing an affordability crisis, 4.7 million people in our state are at risk of losing their health care. Families shouldn’t have to choose between feeding their children and affording their medicine. It doesn’t have to be this way.”
The Florida Democratic Party clearly intends to make health care a major issue politically in upcoming elections. They were already campaigning saying voters should not have to choose between groceries and medicine.
“Republicans didn’t negotiate in good faith. They manufactured this crisis, forced families to suffer, and now they want credit for putting out a fire they started. This is not leadership, it’s cruel and chaotic,” FDP Chair Nikki Fried added. “Republicans own the massive hike in health care premiums facing working families. Democrats will keep fighting for real, long-term solutions that protect families, restore access to health care, and make sure this never happens again. The American people deserve better.”
Rep. Frost seemingly agrees and thinks his party is on the side of voters.
“While Republicans have spent the last 43 days on a paid vacation, I’ve been hearing from constituents who will pay the price for their inaction: a woman battling breast cancer who won’t be able to afford her medication, a family of four now relying on food banks to put meals on the table in order to afford health care, a veteran currently in school one surprise medical bill away from being unable to pay their rent,” Congressman Maxwell Frost said. “Americans deserve better. And I will do everything I can to fight back against the Republicans trying to strip away health coverage from hard working Americans. Health care should not be a privilege only for those who can afford it, it’s a basic necessity in order to thrive, and it should be treated as a human right.”
