Washington’s failure to govern reached a new low this week as Rep. Mike Lawler ripped into House and Senate Democrats on Newsmax’s Wake Up America, accusing them of deliberately sowing dysfunction to score political points. Lawler laid the blame squarely on their refusal to responsibly address the Affordable Care Act subsidy fight after years of promises, arguing that Democrats are choosing chaos over common-sense solutions for hardworking Americans.
The New York Republican didn’t mince words, calling the looming shutdown an “absolutely unforced error” and warning that Democrats are about to hand unprecedented authority to the executive branch by opting to shut the government. That’s not leadership — it’s cowardice: putting political theater ahead of keeping the lights on for American families, veterans, and federal employees.
Lawler also accused top Democrats like Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries of “holding the American people hostage,” insisting they’re waiting on permission from the radical left instead of negotiating in good faith. This is exactly the sort of Washington posturing that voters are sick of — leaders who prioritize a primary challenge over paychecks and public safety.
On the core issue of ACA premium subsidies, Lawler made clear Republicans have signaled willingness to extend temporary relief while refusing to enshrine permanent, expensive expansions Democrats demand. That’s a reasonable, responsible middle-ground that protects families from sticker shock without locking taxpayers into open-ended entitlement growth.
Meanwhile, Democrats cry hypocrisy only when it suits them, after years of lecturing Republicans about keeping government open when a Democrat sat in the White House. Lawler’s point is plain: words have consequences, and the party that once begged for continuity is now weaponizing a shutdown because they fear being primaried by the far left.
Conservative viewers should note that some of the more sensational Democratic claims about providing health care to illegal immigrants have been challenged by independent fact-checkers — yet the talking points persist because they inflame the base. The swamp will always spin; the real question is whether elected Democrats will stop the political games and do what must be done to keep government functioning.
The solution is simple and patriotic: pass the clean continuing resolution already on the table, keep the government open, and negotiate targeted fixes without surrendering fiscal responsibility to Washington’s appetite for more spending. Americans don’t want to watch their leaders trade barbs while services and paychecks hang in the balance — they want adults in charge who put country over caucus.
