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Today, Democrats highlighted health care and the impacts Americans would face in the middle of a pandemic without the protections of the Affordable Care Act. President Trump has promised to only appoint justices to the Supreme Court who support overturning the ACA. Now, Senate Republicans are trying to install Judge Amy Coney Barrett on the court to accomplish what they couldn’t do through legislation — completely overturn the ACA. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Trump’s lawsuit, California v. Texas, one week after election day. If successful, the lawsuit would rip coverage from more than 20 million Americans and remove protections for more than 135 million Americans with a pre-existing condition. 

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First Day of Confirmation Hearings Shows Health Care Is on the Line

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Washington, DC — After the first day of Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation hearings, Senate Judiciary Committee member U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and health care storytellers joined Protect Our Care to discuss what’s at stake for health care and the Affordable Care Act. As Senate Republicans continue to rush through President Trump’s anti-ACA Supreme Court nominee, Democrats used the hearing to highlight the importance of the ACA and stories of constituents who would lose health care if the law were to be overturned. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in California v. Texas, Trump’s lawsuit to completely dismantle the ACA, on November 10 — one week after the 2020 election. If successful, the lawsuit would strip millions of Americans of their health coverage in the middle of a global pandemic made worse by this administration’s failure to confront the crisis head-on. 

“As Senate Republicans continue to rush through this illegitimate process, millions of Americans stand to lose their health care in the middle of a deadly pandemic — including the 150 million Americans with pre-existing conditions covered under the ACA,” said U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). “For millions of Americans like Michele and Nick, a future without the ACA looks like being forced to sell your house if you want to afford your health care, it looks like not having access to a doctor when you’re sick, it looks like having to choose between paying for groceries and paying for medicine. As we face the worst public health crisis in our lifetimes, it would be cruel and reckless to force so many Americans to potentially face losing their health care.”

Michele Lewris is a New Jersey resident with pre-existing conditions. After the sudden death of her husband, Lewris lost her health insurance. Without the coverage she was able to get through the marketplace, she would have had to choose between paying her health care costs and her mortgage. 

“It’s really inhumane and immoral to repeal the Affordable Care Act and I’m terrified it’s going to happen,” said Lewris.

Nick Hare is a South Carolina resident with a pre-existing condition. Last year, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. During the coronavirus pandemic, he was laid off from his job with a software company and lost his health insurance. Without the protections for pre-existing conditions provided by the ACA, Nick would have to find a way to pay over $1,500 per month for needed medications. 

“The idea of coverage for pre-existing conditions being eliminated is not only cost prohibitive to people but immoral,” said Hare.

“The stakes of Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation couldn’t be more clear. President Trump has said he would only select nominees for the Supreme Court who oppose the Affordable Care Act, and Judge Coney Barrett is no exception” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “If Judge Coney Barrett is installed on the court, we are risking losing protections for 135 million people with pre-existing conditions and throwing our entire health care system into chaos during the worst public health crisis in a century.”

Judiciary Committee member U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has made her opposition to the Affordable Care Act crystal clear by voting time and again to repeal the health care law and by supporting California v. Texas, the Trump administration’s lawsuit to completely dismantle the health care law. If successful, the lawsuit would throw our entire health care system into chaos by ripping away health care from more than 20 million Americans and ending protections for more than 135 million people with pre-existing conditions, all in the middle of an ever-worsening pandemic. Senate Republicans are rushing to confirm anti-ACA Judge Amy Coney Barrett in hopes she will help them accomplish their decade-long goal of eliminating the law — and the protections it provides for Americans — when the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in California v. Texas one week after the election. 

What’s At Stake If The Supreme Court Overturns The ACA

If Trump’s lawsuit to overturn the ACA is successful, 232,000 Tennesseans would lose coverage. 

Without the ACA, 2,754,300 Tennesseans with pre-existing conditions could be charged more or denied coverage altogether. 

A Walk Down Memory Lane: Senator Blackburn And The ACA

Blackburn has voted SIX TIMES to fully repeal the ACA.

2018: Blackburn Said She Remains Committed To Repealing The Affordable Care Act. “Tennesseans know the false promises of a government-controlled system, and they are suffering from the impacts of Obamacare, which made health insurance and health care too expensive to afford. It has driven up the cost of all health insurance and forced 122,000 Tennesseans to pay a penalty. Last year, the Senate failed its promise to the American people when it refused to repeal the law, but Marsha remains committed to returning health care to a patient-centered system where families and doctors can make their decisions. She’ll fight to make health care accessible and affordable for all Tennesseans – unlike Democrats who will drive up health care costs and put the government in charge of your healthcare decisions.” [Marsha for Senate, accessed 9/28/18] 

2017: The Washington Post Fact Checker Rated Blackburn’s Claim That The ACA’s Protections For Pre-Existing Conditions Were Republican Provisions “Four Pinocchios.” “There is no evidence that either of these popular elements of the ACA ‘were Republican provisions,’ as Blackburn claims. In fact, Blackburn is on record as promoting the concept of federally funded ‘high-risk pools’ even on the eve of the House vote for the Democratic bill that included a robust provision to bar insurance companies from refusing to cover preexisting conditions. Similarly, the Obama White House and House Democrats were the prime movers of the under-26 provision. Blackburn earns Four Pinocchios.” [Washington Post, 2/28/17] 

Judiciary Committee member U.S. Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) has made his opposition to the Affordable Care Act crystal clear by voting time and again to repeal the health care law and by supporting California v. Texas, the Trump administration’s lawsuit to completely dismantle the health care law. If successful, the lawsuit would throw our entire health care system into chaos by ripping away health care from more than 20 million Americans and ending protections for more than 135 million people with pre-existing conditions, all in the middle of an ever-worsening pandemic. Senate Republicans are rushing to confirm anti-ACA Judge Amy Coney Barrett in hopes she will help them accomplish their decade-long goal of eliminating the law — and the protections it provides for Americans — when the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in California v. Texas one week after the election. 

What’s At Stake If The Supreme Court Overturns The ACA

If Trump’s lawsuit to overturn the ACA is successful, 538,000 Louisianans would lose coverage. 

Without the ACA, 1,914,200 Louisianans with pre-existing conditions could be charged more or denied coverage altogether. 

A Walk Down Memory Lane: Senator Kennedy And The ACA

Kennedy has voted THREE TIMES to fully repeal the ACA.

2016: Kennedy: “Obamacare Sucks And We Need To Repeal It.” “On Wednesday, eight Senate candidates from Louisiana were invited to participate in a forum on health insurance and delivery in Baton Rouge—the candidates all believe that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has its shortcomings, and could use some changes. ‘Obamacare sucks,’ said State Treasurer and Republican John Kennedy, ‘and we need to repeal it.’” [Insurance Business, 8/5/16] 

2017: Kennedy Said He “Will Not Quit” Until The ACA Is Repealed. “US Sen. John Kennedy issued a statement Friday morning following the latest vote on “Obamacare” repeal in which the so-called ‘skinny repeal’ failed. ‘The vote last night is not a loss for the Republican Party. It’s a loss for the American people. Obamacare has not worked. I made a promise to the people of Louisiana, and I kept that promise last night when I voted to repeal and replace Obamacare. Forty-eight other Republicans stood with me, and I want you to know I will not quit until all Louisianans and all Americans have access to affordable health insurance through a health care delivery system that looks like somebody designed it on purpose.’” [WAFB, 7/28/17] 

Judiciary Committee member U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) has made his opposition to the Affordable Care Act crystal clear by voting time and again to repeal the health care law and by supporting California v. Texas, the Trump administration’s lawsuit to completely dismantle the health care law. If successful, the lawsuit would throw our entire health care system into chaos by ripping away health care from more than 20 million Americans and ending protections for more than 135 million people with pre-existing conditions, all in the middle of an ever-worsening pandemic. Senate Republicans are rushing to confirm anti-ACA Judge Amy Coney Barrett in hopes she will help them accomplish their decade-long goal of eliminating the law — and the protections it provides for Americans — when the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in California v. Texas one week after the election. 

What’s At Stake If The Supreme Court Overturns The ACA

If Trump’s lawsuit to overturn the ACA is successful, 99,000 Idahoans would lose coverage. 

Without the ACA, 693,400 Idahoans with pre-existing conditions could be charged more or denied coverage altogether. 

A Walk Down Memory Lane: Senator Crapo And The ACA

Crapo has voted FIVE TIMES to fully repeal the ACA.

Crapo: “Mike Crapo Opposes Obama’s Health Plan And Is Fighting For Its Repeal.” “Mike Crapo opposes Obama’s heath care plan and is fighting for its repeal and replacement. He has co-sponsored and advocated for legislation to fully repeal Obamacare. As a two-time cancer survivor, Mike knows that patients, families and doctors need to be free of excessive government interference so they can have power over their personal healthcare choices.” [Crapo for US Senate, accessed 10/11/20] 

2015: Crapo Sponsored Legislation To “Fully Repeal Obamacare.” “Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a long-time critic of the President’s health care law, has joined a coalition of senators led by Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to introduce legislation to fully repeal Obamacare, officially known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and released the following statement: ‘Millions of Americans, including thousands of Idahoans, have been pushed from their health insurance plans and preferred doctors by this Administration’s signature piece of legislation, despite the President’s repeated pledge to the contrary,” said Crapo. “Americans have seen their taxes increase and felt the pinch of the rising out-of-pocket expenses as a result of Obamacare. Each day seems to bring another piece of bad news regarding the expenses on Obamacare. The law has proven itself unworkable, doubling-down on policies that fail to address the root cause of the soaring costs of health care and inefficiencies in the system. We must move away from the ill-conceived notion that government bureaucracy is the answer to our broken health care system and, instead, turn to real reforms that will result in truly affordable health care as well as improved access to quality care that Americans want and deserve without the failures that are inherent in Obamacare.’ Crapo voted against passage of Obamacare in 2009 when it was being considered in the U.S. Senate, and has since sought to fully repeal, defund and scale back harmful provisions contained in the law.” [Sen. Mike Crapo Press Release, 2/3/15] 

Judiciary Committee member U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) has made her opposition to the Affordable Care Act crystal clear by voting time and again to repeal the health care law and by supporting California v. Texas, the Trump administration’s lawsuit to completely dismantle the health care law. If successful, the lawsuit would throw our entire health care system into chaos by ripping away health care from more than 20 million Americans and ending protections for more than 135 million people with pre-existing conditions, all in the middle of an ever-worsening pandemic. Senate Republicans are rushing to confirm anti-ACA Judge Amy Coney Barrett in hopes she will help them accomplish their decade-long goal of eliminating the law — and the protections it provides for Americans — when the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in California v. Texas one week after the election. 

What’s At Stake If The Supreme Court Overturns The ACA

If Trump’s lawsuit to overturn the ACA is successful, 227,000 Iowans would lose coverage. 

Without the ACA, 1,288,400 Iowans with pre-existing conditions could be charged more or denied coverage altogether. 

A Walk Down Memory Lane: Senator Ernst And The ACA

Ernst has voted FOUR TIMES to fully repeal the ACA.

2017: Ernst Refused To Give Up On Repealing The Affordable Care Act After The Failure Of The Senate Bills: “We Don’t Have The Option To Sit Back And Do Nothing.” “Iowa’s U.S. senators vowed Friday to continue trying to rein in Obamacare after coming up on the losing end of an early morning vote on a controversial ‘skinny repeal’ bill. […] Ernst said Friday she’s also not ready to give up on repealing the Affordable Care Act. ‘We don’t have the option to sit back and do nothing; Iowans are demanding relief from Obamacare,’ she wrote in a statement released by her staff. ‘I am disappointed that the Senate was unable to advance important changes to this flawed law. We must now continue to find ways to work on behalf of Iowans and the American people who have been negatively impacted by Obamacare to find affordable, patient-centered solutions that work for them.’” [Des Moines Register, 7/28/17] 

2014: Ernst Campaigned For The Senate With An Ad Where She “Unloads” On Obamacare By Shooting It With A Handgun. “Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst of Iowa has released a new TV ad vowing to ‘unload’ on Obamacare, in which she takes target practice at a shooting range with a handgun. The narrator of the ad says Ernst, a state senator and lieutenant colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard, ‘carries more than just lipstick in her purse.’ The commercial portrays her riding a motorcycle to a shooting range where she takes target practice. ‘Joni Ernst will take aim at wasteful spending. And once she sets her sights on Obamacare, Joni’s gonna unload,’ the narrator continues. Next, Ernst starts firing a handgun at a target. ‘Oh, and one more thing,’ adds the narrator as the dispersal of her shots on the target come into view. ‘Joni doesn’t miss much.’” [Washington Post, 5/4/14] 

Judiciary Committee member U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) has made his opposition to the Affordable Care Act crystal clear by voting time and again to repeal the health care law and by supporting California v. Texas, the Trump administration’s lawsuit to completely dismantle the health care law. If successful, the lawsuit would throw our entire health care system into chaos by ripping away health care from more than 20 million Americans and ending protections for more than 135 million people with pre-existing conditions, all in the middle of an ever-worsening pandemic. Senate Republicans are rushing to confirm anti-ACA Judge Amy Coney Barrett in hopes she will help them accomplish their decade-long goal of eliminating the law — and the protections it provides for Americans — when the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in California v. Texas one week after the election. 

What’s At Stake If The Supreme Court Overturns The ACA

If Trump’s lawsuit to overturn the ACA is successful, 607,000 North Carolinians would lose coverage. 

Without the ACA, 4,240,500 North Carolinians with pre-existing conditions could be charged more or denied coverage altogether. 

A Walk Down Memory Lane: Senator Tillis And The ACA

Tillis has voted FOUR TIMES to fully repeal the ACA.

2018: Tillis Called His Votes To Repeal The ACA “Courageous” And Said “The First Thing We Have To Do Is Take Out The Underpinnings Of The Affordable Care Act.” “Chris Wallace: Senator, the fact is that the ‘repeal and replace’ bill, which Republicans pushed repeatedly, significantly reduced protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Senator Tillis: Well, Chris, that’s actually one of the reasons why I think it was a courageous vote. The first thing we have to do is take out the underpinnings of the Affordable Care Act so that we put a health care policy in place that’s sustainable.” [“Fox News Sunday,” Fox, 11/4/18] 

2018: Tillis Remained Committed To Repealing The ACA, Promising That “With 53 Members We Get Health Care Done.” “The National Republican Senatorial Committee has concentrated its fall reservations in those states and in defending Heller and Arizona’s Republican open seat. Florida Gov. Rick Scott is also mounting a serious challenge to Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, while former Tennessee Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen is running a surprisingly strong campaign against Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn for that state’s open seat. Trump won all of those states except Nevada. So if Republicans can capitalize on his popularity in conservative states, picking up two or three seats is not out of the question — and neither is a more ambitious agenda. ‘With 53 members we get health care done,’ said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), vice chair of the party’s campaign arm.” [Politico, 7/31/18] 

2017: Tillis Complained That Donations To The GOP Fell Off A Cliff After Failing To Repeal The ACA. “The backlash is threatening to deprive Republicans of resources just as they’re gearing up for the 2018 midterms. Party officials are so alarmed that North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, who oversees fundraising for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told his colleagues at a recent conference meeting that donations had fallen off a cliff after the Obamacare flop. The committee’s haul plummeted to just $2 million in July and August, less than half of what it raised in June.” [Politico, 10/5/17] 

2014: Tillis Said Repealing The ACA Was One Of His Top Priorities In The Senate. “A day after his win over Kay Hagan, Republican Thom Tillis is talking about what he wants to get done in Washington. Tillis spoke about the committee he wants to serve on and his plan to try and repeal Obamacare. Tillis met reporters at Cornelius Town Hall on Wednesday and spoke about reaching out to Democrats. ‘I think we should start by finding bipartisan opportunities to move for on the legislative agenda,’ Tillis said. On bills dealing with jobs and the economy, and the proposed oil pipeline from Canada to Texas, Tillis says Democratic leadership stalled in the Senate. He also vowed to fulfill a campaign promise — reversing Obamacare. The president would veto any bill to repeal it, but Tillis said there are other tactics. ‘Take a look at things we can delay like the employer mandates. Other things, if we can delay them or replace them with something more sustainable, that’s what we need to focus on,’ Tillis said.” [WSOC, 11/5/14] 

Judiciary Committee member U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has made his opposition to the Affordable Care Act crystal clear by voting time and again to repeal the health care law and by supporting California v. Texas, the Trump administration’s lawsuit to completely dismantle the health care law. If successful, the lawsuit would throw our entire health care system into chaos by ripping away health care from more than 20 million Americans and ending protections for more than 135 million people with pre-existing conditions, all in the middle of an ever-worsening pandemic. Senate Republicans are rushing to confirm anti-ACA Judge Amy Coney Barrett in hopes she will help them accomplish their decade-long goal of eliminating the law — and the protections it provides for Americans — when the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in California v. Texas one week after the election. 

What’s At Stake If The Supreme Court Overturns The ACA

If Trump’s lawsuit to overturn the ACA is successful, 230,000 Missourians would lose coverage. 

Without the ACA, 2,478,400 Missourians with pre-existing conditions could be charged more or denied coverage altogether. 

A Walk Down Memory Lane: Senator Hawley And The ACA

2018: Hawley Said Replacing The ACA Would Be “A Top Priority” For Him In The Senate.  “Hawley says he supports protecting pre-existing conditions as well as allowing children to stay on their parents’ plans until the age of 25. And he says if the lawsuit is successful and Obamacare is scuttled, the Senate must act to keep those provisions and rewrite health care laws. ‘The Senate is not doing its job. There’s no doubt about that. Claire McCaskill is a huge part of the problem,’ said Hawley. Next year, Hawley says replacing Obamacare ‘has got to be a top priority.’” [Politico, 8/17/18] 

2018: Hawley Falsely Claimed That The ACA Resulted In “Millions Of Americans” Losing Their Health Insurance.  “When parents around Missouri come up to me and say they’re frightened because they can’t afford their health insurance, I get where they’re coming from. They should be frightened. And they should be angry. Nine years ago, Claire McCaskill and her liberal allies forced through a massive bureaucratic takeover of American healthcare. McCaskill told us that if we liked our healthcare plans, we could keep them. She said the cost of health insurance would go down. She said prescription drug prices would fall. She lied. Since then, millions of Americans have lost their healthcare plans. Healthcare premiums have more than doubled. Prescription drug prices are off the charts. And family after family can’t afford their healthcare bills.” [Josh Hawley Op-Ed, Springfield News-Leader, 8/20/18] 

2017: Hawley: “Obamacare Must Go.” “Obamacare is hurting Missouri families – limiting their healthcare and driving up their bills. And it’s hurting jobs. If we want better healthcare and better jobs in our state, it’s simple: Obamacare must go.” [Hawley For Attorney General, Archived 6/23/17]  

Judiciary Committee member U.S. Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) has made his opposition to the Affordable Care Act crystal clear by voting time and again to repeal the health care law and by supporting California v. Texas, the Trump administration’s lawsuit to completely dismantle the health care law. If successful, the lawsuit would throw our entire health care system into chaos by ripping away health care from more than 20 million Americans and ending protections for more than 135 million people with pre-existing conditions, all in the middle of an ever-worsening pandemic. Senate Republicans are rushing to confirm anti-ACA Judge Amy Coney Barrett in hopes she will help them accomplish their decade-long goal of eliminating the law — and the protections it provides for Americans — when the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in California v. Texas one week after the election. 

What’s At Stake If The Supreme Court Overturns The ACA

If Trump’s lawsuit to overturn the ACA is successful, 75,000 Nebraskans would lose coverage. 

Without the ACA, 789,700 Nebraskans with pre-existing conditions could be charged more or denied coverage altogether. 

A Walk Down Memory Lane: Senator Sasse And The ACA

Sasse has voted FOUR TIMES to fully repeal the ACA.

2014: Sasse: “Look, Obamacare Is Arguably The Worst Law In Our History.” “Look, Obamacare is arguably the worst law in our history. But it’s been four years since it was passed, and Republicans still haven’t offered an alternative. Of course we need to repeal it, but we also need to tell people what we’ll do next.” [Sasse For Nebraska YouTube, 1/4/14] 

2017: In A Letter To President Trump, Sasse Urged Him To Move Quickly On ACA Repeal: “You Campaigned And Won On The Repeal Of Obamacare. So Did Every Republican Senator.” “If we don’t get to agreement on a combined, comprehensive ObamaCare repeal and replace plan by that day, I humbly suggest that you publicly call on the Congress to do two things: (1) to immediately repeal as much of ObamaCare as is possible under Congressional budget reconciliation rules, and then (2) to cancel the scheduled August state work period and instead to spend that month working through regular order, six days per week, writing a health reform package with a vote to be scheduled on Labor Day. You campaigned and won on the repeal of ObamaCare. So did every Republican senator. We should keep our word.” [Ben Sasse Press Release, 7/30/17]

Judiciary Committee member U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has made his opposition to the Affordable Care Act crystal clear by voting time and again to repeal the health care law and by supporting California v. Texas, the Trump administration’s lawsuit to completely dismantle the health care law. If successful, the lawsuit would throw our entire health care system into chaos by ripping away health care from more than 20 million Americans and ending protections for more than 135 million people with pre-existing conditions, all in the middle of an ever-worsening pandemic. Senate Republicans are rushing to confirm anti-ACA Judge Amy Coney Barrett in hopes she will help them accomplish their decade-long goal of eliminating the law — and the protections it provides for Americans — when the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in California v. Texas one week after the election. 

What’s At Stake If The Supreme Court Overturns The ACA

If Trump’s lawsuit to overturn the ACA is successful, 1,958,000 Texans would lose coverage. 

Without the ACA, 11,898,500 Texans with pre-existing conditions could be charged more or denied coverage altogether. 

A Walk Down Memory Lane: Senator Cruz And The ACA

Cruz has voted FOUR TIMES to fully repeal the ACA.

2018: Ted Cruz Said It Was “Reasonable” To Argue ACA’s Pre-Existing Conditions Rules Are Now Unconstitutional. “Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), as vociferous an Obamacare critic as you’ll find, sounds on board with the latest legal challenge to the health care law that could lead to protections for people with preexisting conditions being found unconstitutional. Cruz told Vox that he thought the Justice Department’s position in the lawsuit, that the law’s rules on preexisting conditions should be invalidated along with the individual mandate, was ‘reasonable’ and defended the foundation of the case being brought by his home state of Texas in a brief interview at the Capitol.” [Vox, 6/15/18] 

2018: Ted Cruz: “We Need To Finish The Job” On Obamacare. “Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on Wednesday said Republicans needed to ‘finish the job” on repealing and replacing Obamacare in 2018, and he is pushing his colleagues to use one last reconciliation bill before the midterms to deliver on their long-running promise… ‘The biggest unfinished task is Obamacare,’ Cruz said, reflecting on what Congress did in 2017 and his priorities for 2018. ‘We need to finish the job. I still believe it is possible to bring Republicans together. I think we got very close last time and that’s something I’m continuing to devote a lot of time trying to unite our fractious conference and build consensus to get at least 50 Republicans on the same page.’” [Washington Examiner, 1/24/18] 

2013: Cruz Led The Republican Government Shut Down Over ACA Implementation. “In 2013, Cruz, along with conservatives in the House, demanded that any spending bill also delay the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. President Barack Obama and Senate Democrats, who still had control of the chamber in 2013, were never going to support such a move. But enough House Republicans wouldn’t go for a funding bill that didn’t defund Obamacare, setting up a showdown that shut down government for more than two weeks. (In the end, Cruz and the conservative House faction did not win policy concessions.) Republicans were largely blamed for the shutdown. Cruz’s theatrics inspired the ire not just of Democrats, but of his Republican colleagues in the Senate, who felt Cruz knew his self-righteous gambit was doomed to fail, but went ahead with it anyway to raise his own political profile at his party’s expense.” [Vox, 1/22/18]