WASHINGTON — A large crowd gathered on Capitol Hill Tuesday hours before a federal government shutdown to protest rising health care costs — the crux of Democrats’ stand against approving a temporary Republican funding bill.

More than a dozen Democratic lawmakers joined activists and people who shared stories of rising health insurance premium costs at the “Healthcare Over Billionaires” rally hosted by the advocacy group Fair Share America, along with nearly three dozen labor unions, political advocacy groups and other organizations.

Senate Democrats again on Tuesday blocked Republicans’ temporary government funding bill, citing the expiration of Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits that since 2021 have lowered health insurance costs tied to an enrollee’s income.

The stan

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