By Craig Martel
Founder, PoliticsAreLocal.com | October 6th 2025
When Inaction Is a Strategy
In Washington, doing nothing is rarely neutral. It’s a tactic, a way to stall progress, shift blame, and quietly dismantle programs without leaving fingerprints. This fall, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson have perfected the art of legislative inertia. Their refusal to negotiate a bipartisan funding deal is pushing the government toward deeper shutdown territory and putting the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on life support.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about fiscal discipline. It’s about ideological sabotage.
By blocking ACA extensions from the continuing resolution (CR), Thune and Johnson are setting the stage for millions of Americans to lose healthcare coverage, not through repeal, but through neglect.
What’s at Stake: ACA Subsidies and Medicaid Coverage
The ACA isn’t just a law, it’s a lifeline. More than 21 million Americans rely on its marketplace plans, and millions more benefit from expanded Medicaid coverage. But key provisions are set to expire unless Congress acts:
• Enhanced premium subsidies: These were expanded under the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act, making coverage more affordable for low- and middle-income families.
• Medicaid continuous coverage: During the pandemic, states were barred from kicking people off Medicaid. That protection has ended, but federal funding is still helping states manage the transition.
• Cost-sharing reductions: These help lower deductibles and out-of-pocket costs for working-class enrollees.
Without renewed funding, premiums will spike, coverage will shrink, and millions will be forced to choose between healthcare and rent.
The Thune-Johnson Playbook: Delay, Deflect, Deny
Thune and Johnson aren’t openly campaigning to kill the ACA. They don’t need to. Their strategy is quieter and more dangerous.
1. Delay the funding bill
They’ve refused to include ACA extensions in the CR, claiming it’s “not the time” for policy debates. But the clock is ticking. Every week of delay increases uncertainty for insurers, states, and enrollees.
2. Deflect blame
Johnson has accused Senate Democrats of “weaponizing the shutdown” to push healthcare spending. Thune says Democrats are “holding the government hostage” over “ideological wish lists.” In reality, Democrats are trying to preserve existing coverage, not expand it.
3. Deny the consequences
Both leaders insist the ACA will survive without immediate action. But insurers are already warning of premium hikes, and states are preparing for Medicaid disenrollments. The damage is real and irreversible if funding lapses.
The Local Fallout: What This Means for Communities
Inaction in Washington doesn’t stay in Washington. Here’s how Thune and Johnson’s gridlock hits home:
• Premium hikes: Without subsidies, marketplace plans could become unaffordable for millions. In Clark County alone, over 40,000 residents rely on ACA coverage.
• Medicaid cuts: States may be forced to trim benefits or tighten eligibility. That means fewer doctor visits, delayed diagnoses, and higher ER costs.
• Rural hospitals: Many depend on Medicaid reimbursements. Funding cuts could trigger closures, leaving entire counties without emergency care.
• Small businesses: ACA subsidies help entrepreneurs and gig workers stay insured. Without them, local economies lose resilience.
This isn’t theoretical. It’s a slow-motion unraveling of the healthcare safety net.
Why This Isn’t Just About Healthcare
Thune and Johnson’s obstructionism reveals a deeper truth: they’re not governing, they’re gatekeeping. By refusing to negotiate, they’re using procedural power to block policy outcomes they couldn’t achieve through legislation.
It’s a form of passive authoritarianism:
• No votes. No hearings. No compromise.
• Just silence, delay, and the quiet erosion of public programs.
And it’s not limited to healthcare. The same tactics are being used to block climate funding, education grants, and food assistance. The goal isn’t fiscal restraint, it’s ideological control.
What Local Leaders Must Do
We can’t wait for Washington to fix itself. Here’s how local officials, advocates, and voters can fight back:
1. Track the impact
Use local data to show how many residents rely on ACA coverage. Build dashboards that visualize premium hikes, Medicaid cuts, and hospital risks.
2. Pressure your reps
Even if Thune and Johnson won’t budge, other lawmakers might. Call, email, and publicly challenge your senators and representatives to demand ACA funding in the CR.
3. Support enrollment efforts
If subsidies lapse, enrollment will drop. Partner with clinics, nonprofits, and local media to help residents navigate coverage options.
4. Expose the obstruction
Use social media, op-eds, and public forums to name the tactics. Don’t let “delay” become invisible. Make it political.
My Final Thoughts: Inaction Is a Choice
John Thune and Mike Johnson may not be marching on the ACA with repeal bills and press conferences. But their silence is strategic. Their refusal to act is a form of sabotage. And their delay is costing lives.
At PoliticsAreLocal.com, we refuse to let gridlock become governance. We connect national obstruction to local impact. We build tools that expose, explain, and engage. And we mobilize communities to demand better.
Because doing nothing isn’t neutral. It’s a decision. And it’s time we held it accountable.
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