LEILA FADEL, HOST:
Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire was a lead negotiator between several members of her party and Republicans to end the shutdown. Stefany Shaheen is her daughter and one of seven Democrats running for a House seat in New Hampshire, and she also publicly disagreed with her mother's consequential vote to reopen the government. We called her this morning to ask why. Good morning, Stefany, and thank you for being on the program.
STEFANY SHAHEEN: Good morning, Leila. Thank you so much for having me today.
FADEL: I want to start with why you don't support the deal that your mother ultimately negotiated.
SHAHEEN: Sure. Well, you know, the fact is that improving health care has been the cause of my life. It became that when my eldest daughter, Elle, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was just 8 years old. It's the reason I got into this race, to improve and fight for better health care that's more affordable. And so when Speaker Johnson stated that he couldn't guarantee a vote to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, I knew it was a deal I could not support in the House.
FADEL: At any point during the actual conversations over the deal, when your mom was negotiating it, did you ever tell her, don't go through with it and here's why?
SHAHEEN: Well, you know, I knew where she stood. She knew where I stood. She ultimately did what she thinks is right, and I'm doing what I think is right. And ultimately, what's right is to ensure that we turn this anger into action, and we demand that Speaker Johnson bring a vote to the floor to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.
FADEL: So when you say turn this anger into action, I mean, for anyone using the federal health care exchanges, out-of-pocket premium payments are expected to more than double without subsidies. In New Hampshire's first congressional district where you are running for office, there are more than 36,000 people who get their health insurance through the ACA marketplace. What are they telling you about what they want from Congress? And what are you telling them you will do if you get elected on this matter?
SHAHEEN: Sure. Well, the first thing we have to do is extend these tax credits. You know, the fact is Republicans have made it pretty easy for them to extend their tax breaks to the billionaire friends they represent. And they're struggling very hard to figure out how to extend tax credits for the millions of Americans who need health care. The rising cost of health care in New Hampshire, a family of four can expect to see their premiums increase almost $7,000 next year if these tax credits don't get extended.
It's simply unattainable. It's not affordable. And these costs on top of all the other expenses people are trying to navigate right now - with inflation, the rising cost of food, the rising cost of housing - it just can't keep going this way. We have to ensure we get these tax credits extended. And then beyond that, that's just the start of the fight. Then beyond that, we've got to do everything in our power to improve health care.
We've got lots of ways of doing that. I think the first, most important step is that in the next six weeks, we have to get these tax credits extended. And so I invite all your listeners to check out our website and join us in this fight, stefanyshaheen.com, for the advocacy work we're going to need to do between now and the end of December. And let's be clear, we have to get these tax credits extended before January because that's when the premiums go up.
FADEL: Now, the deal that passed that reopened the government didn't include any long-term commitment, as you mentioned, from Republicans to extend health care subsidies. But your mother noted about her vote that she thought the things that it did include were important - making sure federal workers got rehired and paid, food benefits got restored - that these were more important things and it's what the Democrats could get. I mean, do you agree?
SHAHEEN: Well, I think ultimately the Senate is going to get a vote on the extension of the tax credits. And we need Speaker Johnson to guarantee the same thing. You know, being in a position where we're having...
FADEL: But I guess, why wasn't that part of the deal originally? Like, it doesn't matter if the Senate does it if the House doesn't.
SHAHEEN: Well, and that's why I had to speak out against it, because we have to have a vote in the House. You know, ultimately, being in a position where we're having to choose between sick kids and hungry kids is not a good place to be. And we have to make sure we still have time to channel this anger into action and get a vote in the House. The fight continues. And I think the fight has to be focused right now on doing everything in our power to make sure there's a bill that comes out of the Senate to extend the ACA tax credits and that we get the House to do the same before the end of December.
FADEL: Is there a place for common ground between Democrats and Republicans on rising health care costs? Because it is something that is acknowledged on both sides of the aisle.
SHAHEEN: There has to be. And, you know, part of that is my motivation in getting into this race. We collectively have to stand up and fight for what's right. And we know the health and well-being of the American people has to come first. So I am certain there's common ground here, and it can start with everyone agreeing to extend these tax credits before the end of December.
FADEL: Stefany Shaheen is running to become a member of the U.S. House. She's the daughter of Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen and disagrees with her vote on this deal. Thank you so much.
SHAHEEN: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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