cm0002

joined 4 weeks ago
 

Congressional Republicans are reportedly trying to insert anti-abortion language into government funding legislation as the shutdown continues, with the GOP and President Donald Trump digging in against a clean extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits as insurance premiums surge.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, sounded the alarm on Saturday about what he characterized as the latest Republican sneak attack on reproductive rights.

Wyden said Saturday—which marked day 39 of the shutdown—that “Republicans are spinning a tale that the government is funding abortion.”

“It’s not,” Wyden continued. “What Republicans are talking about putting on the table amounts to nothing short of a backdoor national abortion ban. Under this plan, Republicans could weaponize federal funding for any organization that does anything related to women’s reproductive healthcare. They could also weaponize the tax code by revoking non-profit status for these organizations.”

“The possibilities are endless, but the results are the same: a complete and total restriction on abortion, courtesy of Republicans,” the senator added. “Trump said he’d leave abortion care up to the states. Well, this latest scheme makes it crystal clear: A de facto nationwide abortion ban has been his plan all along.”

 

The Senate is voting on the first steps to end the 40-day government shutdown Sunday after a group of moderate Democrats agreed to proceed without a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies, angering many in their caucus who wanted to continue the fight.

The group of three former governors — New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan and Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine — said they would vote to reopen if the Senate passed three annual spending bills and extend the rest of government funding until late January. Senate Majority Leader John Thune endorsed the deal Sunday night and called an immediate vote to begin the process of approving it.

The deal would also include a future vote on the health care subsidies, which would not have a guaranteed outcome, and a reversal of the mass firings of federal workers that have happened since the shutdown began on Oct. 1. The full text of the deal has not yet been released.

[–] cm0002@ttrpg.network 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Not sure what your area was or what, but it's definitely way cheaper. I still have the ability to go and make a 45-minute monthly trek to do so. Meat alone is, on average, 50% cheaper than Walmart and about 30-40% cheaper than the cheapest place I have in town

There are a few exceptions like certain canned veggies/beans if you can buy in bulk at Sam's Club or Costco can be a bit more expensive at the Commissary on a per ounce basis and name brand frozen/pantry "convenience" foods tend to have little savings

But by and large it's dirt cheap compared to off-base

 

President Donald Trump’s administration is demanding states “undo” full SNAP benefits paid out under judges’ orders last week, now that the U.S. Supreme Court has stayed those rulings, marking the latest swing in a seesawing legal battle over the anti-hunger program used by 42 million Americans.

The demand from the U.S. Department of Agriculture came as more than two dozen states warned of “catastrophic operational disruptions” if the Trump administration does not reimburse them for those SNAP benefits they authorized before the Supreme Court’s stay.

Nonprofits and Democratic attorneys general sued to force the Trump administration to maintain the program in November despite the ongoing government shutdown. They won the favorable rulings last week, leading to the swift release of benefits to millions in several states, and the Trump administration belatedly said the program could continue.

[–] cm0002@ttrpg.network 21 points 3 weeks ago (6 children)

Commissary groceries are subsidized, it's going to have a pretty big impact. Not only will they have to go off-base, it'll be a lot more expensive.

Coupled with the not getting paid part...lmao

[–] cm0002@ttrpg.network 11 points 3 weeks ago (7 children)

In a just, reasonable world it wouldn't matter because the governments would be doing logical things like rolling out some sort of UBI program to catch people or ensuring basic needs are met job or no job, setting up retraining programs for people to easily pivot etc.

It is useful, it's the governments of the world response to its job elimination that's the problem