(The Center Square) – As the ongoing government shutdown enters its third week, Republican leaders are reminding Democrats that by blocking the House-passed funding bill, they are also delaying progress on the very health care policies that they

Democratic senators have blocked Republicans’

But Democrats argue that any funding agreement should in

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Democrats are essentially shooting themselves in the foot by prolonging the government shutdown over demands for health care concessions, rather than keeping the government open so that Congress can actually hammer out health care policy.

“They don’t really want a negotiation, it’s just a talking point,” Johnson told reporters Monday. “We have to fix health care in America, and we have ideas to do

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