Congresswoman Signals Willingness to Negotiate With Democrats
Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has indicated she is open to negotiating with Democrats on healthcare insurance costs, the central issue behind the ongoing U.S. government shutdown that began on October 1. In a series of posts on X, Greene expressed frustration that insurance premiums could double next year if federal tax credits established during Barack Obama’s presidency are allowed to expire.
“I’m absolutely disgusted,” Greene wrote, emphasizing that she was willing to stand apart from her party on the issue. “When the tax credits expire this year, my own adult children’s insurance premiums for 2026 are going to double, along with those of the wonderful families and hard-working people in my district.”
Criticism of the Affordable Care Act, but Concern for Costs
Although Greene voiced opposition to the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—calling it “Obamacare bullshit”—she acknowledged that the expiration of ACA-linked tax credits would severely impact her constituents. “The ACA made health insurance unaffordable for my family after it was passed,” she said, describing premium increases that exceeded her family’s mortgage payment.
Greene, who entered Congress in 2021, said she intends to prioritize affordable insurance costs for Americans, even if it means defying GOP leadership. Republicans have maintained that Democrats must first agree to reopen the government before any negotiations on healthcare policy take place.
Maintaining Hardline Immigration Stance
While signaling a willingness to cooperate on domestic healthcare affordability, Greene reiterated her opposition to providing government-funded healthcare to undocumented immigrants. “I’m a Republican and won’t vote for illegals to have any taxpayer-funded healthcare or benefits,” she said. “I’m AMERICA ONLY!!!”
Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries recently clarified that current federal law already prohibits using Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or the Affordable Care Act to cover undocumented immigrants. Greene’s remarks, however, appear aimed at reinforcing her alignment with the “America First” priorities of the MAGA movement.
Frustration With GOP Priorities and Trump’s Mixed Signals
Greene also criticized fellow Republicans for focusing on foreign conflicts rather than domestic issues. “All our country does is fund foreign countries and foreign wars, and never does anything to help the American people,” she wrote, referring to U.S. aid for Ukraine and Israel. “It is absolutely shameful, disgusting, and traitorous that our laws and policies screw the American people so much that the government is shut down right now fighting over basic issues like this.”
Her comments come as former President Donald Trump appeared to briefly entertain the idea of making a deal with Democrats on healthcare before reversing course. “If we made the right deal, I’d make a deal—sure,” Trump said on Monday, but later posted that Democrats must agree to reopen the government first. Greene’s stance marks one of the first significant Republican cracks in the party’s unified front during the shutdown, suggesting that internal pressure may be mounting for a compromise on healthcare costs.
