With the U.S. government closed for business and the federal budget held up in the U.S. Senate, local lawmakers await the call to return to Washington D.C. to approve any changes that may come out of negotiations.

Republican representatives David Valadao, R-Hanford, and Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, said congressional Democrats’ refusal to negotiate caused the shutdown. Lawmakers from the left, including Jim Costa, D-Fresno, and Adam Gray, D-Merced, say health care cuts in the Republican budget will hurt Valley families.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson ordered the House of Representatives out of session likely until Tuesday of next week, Costa told GV Wire while he was in Fresno on Wednesday.

Getting the budget approved will require both parties to sit down and talk about the most important issues, Costa said.

“We get out of it the way we have in the past in which Democrats and Republicans sit down at the table and they talk about the issues that they care most about, in this case protecting the Affordable Health Care Act and protecting the tax credit that Americans receive that will, if we don’t agree, go up anywhere from 200% to 300%,” Costa said. “I’ve got 450,000 (constituents) that rely on Medicaid funding. The 1.3 trillion dollar cuts, the largest cuts in health care in American history, plus adding $3.2 trillion to the (national) debt is not something I support.”

Affordable Care Act Tax Credit Front-and-Center in Budget Battle

The budget fight largely surrounds changes to the Affordable Care Act and a Medicaid tax credit. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, along with Vice President JD Vance said they would talk with Democrats about extending the health care subsidies set to expire at the end of 2025 but not while the government is shut down.

Republicans, including President Donald Trump, have claimed that Affordable Care Act benefits pay for illegal immigrants. Democrats counter that the president’s claim is “dishonest.” Some federal funding will cover emergency Medicaid coverage, but unauthorized immigrants aren’t eligible for ACA benefits.

Trump has said he favored layoffs rather than furloughs in some situations. Those layoffs could come later this week. Federal food assistance could run out in the next week or two.

Furloughed federal employees do get paychecks for lost time once a funding bill is reauthorized.

Gray, who is in California conducting constituent meetings and attending community events, said he doesn’t support the shutdown.

“I do not support a government shutdown,” Gray said in a statement to GV Wire. “It’s bad for our nation, dangerous for our security, and devastating for our economy and Valley families. The only way forward is bipartisan compromise — not partisan threats or political games. That’s why I’ve put forward a plan to keep the government open and protect Valley families from rising health care costs.”

Negotiate Health Care After Government Reopens: Valadao

Valadao, a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, said congressional Democrats have acted irresponsibly. He said he voted to advance the funding bills while Congress works on a long-term solution.

“Unfortunately, Congressional Democrats refused to act responsibly and instead forced a shutdown — wasting taxpayer dollars, putting critical programs at risk, and hurting families across the country just to score political points,” Valadao said in a statement. “A shutdown doesn’t benefit anyone, and it’s past time for Democrats to stop with the reckless games, get serious about governing, and put the American people first.”

Fong said the vote against the spending bill in the Senate hurts Valley families.

“It’s time for Senator Schumer to put governing for all Americans ahead of appeasing his progressive base,” Fong said in a statement. “Our communities deserve better. I voted to keep the government open and remain committed to governing responsibly, finding solutions, and delivering results for all of us here in California’s 20th District.”

Health Care Fight Worth a Shutdown: Costa

Costa said the first notices for Medicaid cancelation go out this month, meaning that families needing health care face insurance rate jumps very soon.

“If we don’t address it now, (there) are going to be notices of the increase of their insurance under the Affordable Health Care act to 300% if you’re making $65,000 and a family of four here in the Valley, your insurance could go up anywhere from $700 to $1,200 a month,” Costa said.

Costa said fighting for a principle is worth a shutdown.

“I think if you have a principle that’s important, and that is protecting Americans’ health care, then it’s worth it,” Costa said.