To hear Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., tell it, Americas long national nightmare is over.
Except its not.
Our national nightmare isnt the government shutdown; its Obamacare.
Congressional leaders have been congratulating themselves on reaching a deal to spend more of our money -- a deal that keeps their own special Obamacare treatment.
But while they were arguing about it, regular people have been reeling from the horror of Obamacares insurance hikes.See "Stories Flood In: Obamacare Hiked My Insurance."
Thats right. Members of Congress and their staffs are still getting their taxpayer-funded subsidies to pay for their health insurance.
That $5,000 for individual coverage or $11,000 for family coverage will come in pretty handy for them if theyre shopping on the Obamacare exchanges, where Heritage research shows premiums are up in nearly every state.
Congress has ignored the shocked outcry from Americans opening letters from their insurance companies.
And those letters are landing in the mailboxes of both liberals and conservatives. One woman who voted for President Obama found out she will pay $1,800 more for her insurance next year. She told the San Jose Mercury News, Of course, I want people to have health care. I just didnt realize I would be the one who was going to pay for it personally.
This is the new reality under Obamacare. Instead of giving people relief from these crushing blows to their finances, Congress made a deal to borrow more and keep Washingtons spending spree going.
As Heritages Grover M. Hermann Fellow Romina Boccia wrote earlier in the week, the deal locks in Obamacares implementation with no relief in sight for those Americans who are seeing their premiums increase, their working hours cut, and their job opportunities diminished.
Congress didnt listen to the people who are wondering how theyre going to make ends meet in just a few months. It didnt listen to you.
But were listening -- keep sending us your stories about how Obamacare is impacting your family. And our experts will keep the vital information coming on everything from Congresss unfair, illegal deals for themselves to how much everyone else is paying in the insurance exchanges.
And well be here when government funding runs out again in January -- and we hit the debt ceiling again in February. Because Congress doesnt seem to learn.
Amy Payne is assistant director of Strategic Communications at The Heritage Foundation.
