The Senate has rejected legislation to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, essentially guaranteeing that millions of Americans will see a steep rise in costs at the beginning of the year.
6 of the 8 are due in 2028, just a bit more than two years away. Senators serve a 6 year term. Voters would have to support a primary challenge, possible but difficult. It would have to be based entirely on their decision to fund the stopgap, which would be tough as they can give their reasoning as to how they thought they were helping constituents. Given the power of incumbency, I have serious doubt many of them were worried about being voted out a year later. You’re right about the memory of the voters, it is short and 12 months is a long time.
Schumer being a “leader” doesn’t mean he controls other Senators. That’s just not how it works. Senators are accountable to their constituency, not the informal leader of their party. These Senators did not consult with Schumer because they DIDN’T HAVE TO. They are federally elected Senators and can think and act according to their own logic.
In fact, demanding this kind of conformity or slavish adherence to a single leader is something you’d likely criticize if you saw it happening on the other side of the aisle.
6 of the 8 are due in 2028, just a bit more than two years away. Senators serve a 6 year term. Voters would have to support a primary challenge, possible but difficult. It would have to be based entirely on their decision to fund the stopgap, which would be tough as they can give their reasoning as to how they thought they were helping constituents. Given the power of incumbency, I have serious doubt many of them were worried about being voted out a year later. You’re right about the memory of the voters, it is short and 12 months is a long time.
Schumer being a “leader” doesn’t mean he controls other Senators. That’s just not how it works. Senators are accountable to their constituency, not the informal leader of their party. These Senators did not consult with Schumer because they DIDN’T HAVE TO. They are federally elected Senators and can think and act according to their own logic.
In fact, demanding this kind of conformity or slavish adherence to a single leader is something you’d likely criticize if you saw it happening on the other side of the aisle.