For the Republican view on the shutdown, we're joined now by Representative Mike Herodopoulos of Florida.

Congressman, welcome back to the NewsHour.

Great to be here.

So as you just heard, Democrats are not giving in on their demands to reverse the Medicaid cuts, to extend those Affordable Care Act tax credits.

They say people's health costs will go up if you don't take those steps. Why I oppose that?

Well, first and foremost, let's recognize where we're at.

Their ransom note for this is $1.5 trillion. And if we wouldn't have a negotiation...

Like the equivalent of the cuts, right? The Medicaid cuts?

When you... Now, when you add up all of their goodies, it's $1.5 trillion. And let's also be clear,

any Medicaid cuts that they talk about wouldn't take

place until 2027. And a person who's disabled, who's an elderly, who's a child of a low-income

parent, let alone a pregnant woman, those are untouched, as you know, we talked about that in July.

But that said, let's keep the government open and have these thoughtful negotiations.

Democrats did it 13 times during the Biden years. We think a CR is a smart thing. It's a continuation of the deal we cut back in March. And we think keeping the government open is a good idea. It's what Chuck Schumer said his entire career. And I'd like to think they can do it again. So as you mentioned, the Medicaid cuts don't go into effect until 2027, but those subsidies do run out at the end of the year. And Democrats say, look, if the Republicans made these cuts in the first place, why should they trust you that you'll negotiate on them in good faith now if you didn't do that before? Well, I think one is we need to negotiate. I think it's a thoughtful thing to do. But let's keep the government in the open in the meantime. Let's not penalize people for this negotiation that's going on. But there are problems within that system, I think they'd have to admit. One is if you live in Arizona and you're a family of four and they have an income of $600,000, they get a subsidy. In Vermont, if you make $180,000 as a single person, you get a subsidy.

I think those are things will negotiate. And I'd also like to say that of those people who are getting these subsidies, 40% of them didn't even use that insurance. So some people are getting

signed up for it. They're not getting that quality health care they need to have. That's why we need to have the overhaul, much like we did with Medicaid. People who really need it, the disabled, the elderly, let's help them. Same thing with the subsidies. Truly people have the financial need, not just another program. I hear you saying you should negotiate, but as Leader Jeffries just said, the White House hasn't reached out, Republican leadership has not reached out to negotiate. They're basically saying Democrats need to drop their demands. Well, I would say this. What's the benefit of closing the government? I can't think of one. Well, Democrats would say they're fighting for health care costs here. They don't want people's costs to go up. Let's also say this. Since Obamacare's been in place, prices have gone up radically. And a lot of folks are hurting who pay for the, quote, private

insurance. And this would cause them to go up even further. Well, that's why we're going to have the debate.

But this is why we're looking at this program. If they just let the status quo hold, which is their position at this point,

when people get insurance paid for or subsidizedized and 40% don't even use it, there's a problem in the system.

If you're a family making $600,000, you shouldn't be having a subsidy.

You shouldn't get other taxpayers to help you out.

But you have to keep the government open.

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