Democratic Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani held dueling press calls about the ongoing government shutdown Tuesday. Both affirmed support for extending health care tax credits but blamed the other party for stalling negotiations.
At the center of the shutdown is whether to extend tax credits that cap the amount people pay out of pocket for Affordable Care Act health plans.
Kelly warned that hundreds of thousands of Arizonans will see higher health care costs in 2026 if the credits are allowed to expire at the end of the year.
Ciscomani said the way forward was for the Senate to pass the House’s continuing resolution — which would fund the government at current levels through Nov. 21 — and then have bipartisan negotiations over the credits.
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