Update no.1244

 Update from the Heartland

No.1244

10.11.25 – 16.11.25

Blog version:  http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/

 

To all,

 

The historic agony is finally over! I should add ‘at least for now’ since the funding extension at issue this week only lasts until the end of January. Now, we must pick up the pieces and repair the damage done by the president’s insistence upon shutting down the government to get what he wanted. Over the weekend, eight Senate Democrats caved and joined the MAGAts in a deal that does not help the less advantaged among us. They voted for the extension based on a promise to vote on the PPACA subsidy extension. Of course, the MAGAts have always told the truth (he said with dripping sarcasm), so we can believe them now.

The PPACA was signed into law by President Obama—{Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) [PL 111-148; 124 Stat. 119; 23.March.2010] [432]}. The law was far from perfect, but it was a helluva lot better than what existed prior to the new law—nothing. The Republicans / MAGAts want to return to that prior state—nothing. PPACA does not affect them, only the less advantaged among us. The PPACA was a small progressive step forward and a long way from the ideal state—universal health care for all.

Since the PPACA was passed and signed into law in 2010, the Republicans and now MAGAts have been trying feverishly to gut or kill the PPACA. For a decade and a half, they have repeatedly and consistently declared the PPACA was too expensive, not effective, and otherwise bad law. They have also proclaimed they were going to replace it with a new law that was much better, less expensive, and more effective. To the date of this Update’s posting, neither the former Republican Party nor the current MAGAt Party have EVER presented an improved healthcare plan, set aside a proposed legislation to replace and improve PPACA. All they do is flap their gums with not a twit of substance. The MAGAts have taken a ‘Let them eat cake’ attitude toward the people in need.

The Senate voted 60-40-0-0(0) to pass the amended HR 5371 bill. Eight Senate Democrats abandoned their party’s objectives in this legislative showdown. They were:

Cortez Masto (D-NV)

Durbin (D-IL)

Fetterman (D-PA)

Hassan (D-NH)

Kaine (D-VA)

King (I-ME)

Rosen (D-NV)

Shaheen (D-NH)

Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky voted against the bill. With the Senate passage of the HR 5371, the bill went back to the House for acceptance of the Senate amendments. Speaker Johnson finally called the House back into session after a nearly two-month hiatus. 

The amended HR 5371 bill went to the House, where it was passed on Wednesday [12.November.2025] by a vote of 222-209-0-2(2). 

Democrats voting for the bill:

Cuellary [D-TX]

Davis. [D-NC]

Golden [D-ME]

Gray [D-CA]

Perez [D-WA]

Suozzi [D-NY]

Republicans voting against the bill:

Massie [R-KY]

Steube [R-FL]

The president signed the funding extension into law Wednesday evening—Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 [PL 119-037; H.R. 5371; House: 222-209-0-2(2); Senate: 60-40-0-0(0); 139 Stat. xxx]. He got his way on this one thanks to the eight Senate Democrats who caved to his demands.

There is zero question as to who I blame for this government shutdown. His obsession with rewriting history and erasing  Obama, Biden, and he will get to Clinton eventually. Except the orange one and Bill Clinton share a common thread. I feel considerable empathy for those among us who will pay a tragic price for the orange one’s malignant narcissism.  There should be no doubt about the character of the con-man-in-chief.

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1243:

Comments to the Blog:

“Happy 250^th Anniversary to the USMC!

“The remaining MAGAts don’t follow fact and logic.

“The purpose of a business is to make money. The Preamble to the Constitution gives the purpose of the United States Government: ‘to form a more perfect Union, insure domestic tranquility, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,’ none of which Agent Orange has attempted to do. (He hasn’t done well in legitimate businesses, either.)

“The morning’s news is that eight Democrat Senators have voted to betray Americans dependent on ACA and other healthcare programs. I haven’t studied the full list yet, but I can assure you that progressives will work to replace them with more patriotic Americans. I’m a SNAP recipient, but the ‘general Welfare’ should be the first concern here.”

My response to the Blog:

A significant milestone in the history of the republic’s Marine Corps.

Yes, it is. I would only add that the purpose of business is to return shareholder value, which adds an important dynamic for the operation of public companies. You quote the Preamble correctly. I also agree with your condemnation of the orange one. I doubt he has ever read, set aside understands, the Constitution that he is charged by We, the People, to support and defend. That was my point. He does not meet any definition of a good businessman. I repeat, he is a conman, huckster, and snake-oil salesman; he is NOT a businessman.

Yes, they did. The amended bill (HR 5371) must go back to the House for concurrence and passage. I cannot imagine how heartless a person must be to stand against helping those less advantaged citizens among us. I write much more in this week’s Update (still working on it). I am absolutely certain the general Welfare is important to you, as it should be to all compassionate and caring citizens. Once more, we see the MAGAts for exactly what they are—“Let them eat cake.”

 

My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)