OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — As the government shutdown drags on, it continues to impact Oklahomans.
“It’s making it hard because half of us get food stamps, and we can’t live off that. I mean, we have no food stamps to get no food,” Kelly Zaikis said. ” I don’t like it because our food stamps, we can’t get em.”
However, the end could be in sight for the longest government shutdown in American history after eight Democrats joined Republicans on Sunday night in a vote that could be the first step in ending the government shutdown.
“It’s going to include a guarantee for a vote on extending the Affordable Care Act subsidies, enhanced subsidies. I know that’s a lot of jargon. Basically if we don’t do that, insurance costs are just gonna skyrocket. And that’s been the whole gist of of why Democrats who don’t have much power or much leverage, let’s not forget it was Republicans who won the House, Republicans who won the Senate and a very strong Republican President. That’s basically put us in this position to where we’ve got to decide OK are we going to do what we can to help people’s health care stay affordable or are we going to fight for food on the table,” State Representative Jacob Rosecrants (D-Norman) said.
Some Democrats, like Rosecrants, are torn about some Democrats at the federal level advancing the measure.
“I’m torn because again, I am a Democrat in a majority Republican district. Compromise is my bread and butter. Even though, you know, I’m a liberal hearted person, I also do the best I can to represent my folks. The thing I’m wondering about, did these folks do what what they thought was best for their folks? If they did, then I think we need to give them credit for that. At the same time, as this happens, as the government hopefully opens up, we can’t just forget about this,” Rosecrants told FOX 25.
Congressman Kevin Hern who represents Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District took to X to say, “After 40 days of holding government funding hostage, enough Senate Democrats voted last night to take the first step in reopening the government. Schumer’s Shutdown leveraged our troops, federal employees, and SNAP recipients as political pawns. It’s time to end this and get back to work for the American people.”
