Opinion: 9 million kids get health insurance after the shutdown — and progressives are calling that a bad deal?

To the editor: Many people want to paint the Senate Democrats as having “folded” by agreeing to keep the government open until Feb. 8, at which time if the Republicans’ promise to hold a debate and vote on a bill to protect “Dreamers” is not kept, Democrats are free once again not to fund the government. (“Trump signs bill to reopen government — for three weeks — after bipartisan deal,” Jan. 22)

In return, 9 million kids get insurance for six years, thanks to the funding of the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Call me crazy, but it seems like a pretty good deal.

Michael Olson, Pasadena

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To the editor: Hat trick! Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and his fellow Senate Democrats managed to score three goals against themselves:

• They fed the Republican narrative that “Democrats care more about illegal immigrants than they do about hard-working Americans who lost pay during the shutdown.”
• They gave up the moral high ground by shutting down the government on a nonfiscal issue.
• They demonstrated their legislative incompetence. How did they ever dream this would pan out their way?

If they want to go to the mat on an issue, how about choosing one that affects Dreamers and the rest of us alike, such as rebuilding our aging infrastructure, expanding Medicare or slowing climate change?

David Weaver, San Juan Capistrano

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To the editor: It looks like Schumer is playing the long game.

The Democrats have a base, just as Trump does. The difference in the next election will be the independents, who do not like it when either party shuts down the government. They also do not like it when one party refuses to compromise.

Schumer and the moderate Democrats did not want to keep the government shut down for long and wanted to force the Republicans to compromise on immigration. The key will be if White House policy advisor Stephen Miller and Trump’s chief of staff John Kelly permit the president to compromise.

I doubt they will, and as a result independents will vote for Democrats in November. Good thinking, Sen. Schumer.

Louis Rosen, Pacific Palisades

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