In today’s Las Vegas Review-Journal, Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) fired off an opinion column blaming Republicans – and President Trump – for the ongoing government shutdown.
She called it a “massive spike in health-care costs” caused by the GOP’s refusal to extend what she calls “enhanced premium tax credits.”
She even claimed Republicans “left town and took a government-paid vacation.”
Cute. But it’s pure campaign fiction.
Because when it came time to vote on the actual bills to reopen the government, Rosen voted no. Every time. The record’s public.
The same Senate votes she says “Republicans blocked” are the ones she herself opposed.
So when Rosen writes that she’s been “voting time and again to reopen the government,” that’s simply not true. It’s marketing copy for her reelection brochure.
The Great “Tax Credit” Lie
Here’s where Rosen’s story really collapses.
She claims Democrats created the “enhanced premium tax credits” in 2020 “to help lower health-care costs” when prices were rising.
Sounds noble – until you realize what it actually was: a temporary COVID-era subsidy, not a “tax credit.”
Congress didn’t cut anyone’s taxes. They mailed out government money to cover part of people’s health-insurance premiums during the pandemic.
It was a short-term relief measure meant to keep people insured through the shutdowns Democrats demanded, not a permanent entitlement program.
When the emergency ended, so was the funding.
That’s how temporary programs are supposed to work – unless, of course, you’re a Washington Democrat who never met a “temporary” giveaway they didn’t want to make permanent.
Subsidies Disguised as Compassion
Here’s what Rosen won’t tell you: those so-called “enhanced credits” don’t actually lower the cost of health care. They just shift the bill.
Instead of tackling high prices, the federal government cuts a check to insurance companies, making it look like costs went down.
But they didn’t – taxpayers just picked up more of the tab.
That’s not reform. That’s cost-covering theater.
The result? Washington borrows even more money, the national debt grows, inflation eats up your paycheck, and Rosen calls it “compassion.”
President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill ended that shell game.
It restored fiscal sanity and personal choice – allowing Americans to choose the plans that work for them without subsidizing bloated bureaucracies or insurance lobbyists.
That’s what Rosen calls “slashing Medicaid.” Regular Nevadans call it common sense.
The “Cost Spike” Scare Story
Rosen warns that Nevadans will see a 26% jump in premiums if her subsidies expire.
That figure comes from a single left-leaning think tank assuming the government suddenly stops paying insurers. It’s not based on market data.
What’s actually driving prices up?
- Biden-era inflation
- Federal mandates
- Endless new coverage requirements
In other words: the very policies Rosen supports.
So when she blames Republicans for higher premiums, that’s like an arsonist blaming the fire department for water damage.
Nevada’s Real Picture
About 95,000 Nevadans buy insurance through Nevada Health Link – and Rosen points to them as proof she’s “fighting for families.”
But what about the hundreds of thousands of others with employer plans, small-business coverage, or private insurance?
They’re paying more every month because of Washington’s meddling.
Every time Democrats extend another “temporary” handout, someone else gets the bill.
And it’s usually you.
Spin Meets the Facts
Jacky Rosen’s op-ed reads like a fairy tale written by her campaign team. The truth is simpler:
- She voted against the major bills that would’ve reopened the government.
- The “enhanced tax credits” she defends were temporary COVID subsidies, not permanent reforms.
- Her policies keep prices high while pretending to make them affordable.
Nevadans deserve truth, not talking points.
The shutdown didn’t happen because Republicans took a “vacation.” It happened because Democrats like Jacky Rosen refused to give up their addiction to Washington handouts – even when the country ran out of cash to cover them.
That’s not responsible representation. That’s political malpractice.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
