Minnesota Senator Scott Dibble Condemns U.S. Senate Vote to End Historic Shutdown Without Protecting Working Families or Health Care

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota State Senator Scott Dibble (DFL–Minneapolis) is sharply criticizing the U.S. Senate’s decision to end the record-breaking federal government shutdown without securing guarantees for affordable health care or broader protections for working families.

The Senate vote, held on November 9, 2025, advanced a short-term funding bill with bipartisan support — including votes from eight Democratic Senators, one Independent, and nearly all Republicans. The measure, which temporarily reopens the government through late January, ended the longest shutdown in U.S. history but did not include an extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits, a key Democratic demand during negotiations.

Under the deal, lawmakers agreed only to hold a future vote on the ACA subsidies — a compromise many progressive Democrats, including Dibble, have denounced as inadequate.

“This vote is disheartening,” said Senator Dibble in a statement released Monday. “At a moment when Americans are looking for leaders who will fight for them — to stand firm for affordable health care and basic economic security — we should have held the line for working families. The public has shown again and again that they support those priorities, and they’re counting on our leaders to follow through.”

Criticizing the Compromise

Senator Dibble condemned what he described as a capitulation that rewards political brinkmanship and leaves millions of Americans vulnerable.

The Republican-led shutdown, which began on October 1, 2025, disrupted critical services nationwide — from SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits and small-business loans to airport operations and veterans’ assistance.

“Using hungry children and families and travelers desperate to see loved ones over Thanksgiving as pawns in a political stunt is morally indefensible,” Dibble said. “To capitulate to that kind of hostage-taking only invites more cruelty.”

The funding measure includes three full-year appropriations bills but omits the ACA tax-credit extension, which is set to expire at the end of 2025. Without an extension, health insurance premiums could double for millions of Americans, according to policy analysts and Minnesota’s own U.S. Senators.

Backing Minnesota’s U.S. Senators

Dibble praised U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, who were among the majority of Democrats voting against the bill in protest of its lack of healthcare protections.

“I want to thank Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar for their steadfast leadership and for voting to continue the fight for ordinary Americans,” Dibble said. “Democrats should be the party of courage and conviction. If we are to be seen as strong and principled, we must be willing to stand our ground and show the public that we mean what we say: that we stand with working people, not the powerful.”

A Call for Courage and Accountability

Senator Dibble’s remarks echo growing frustration among progressive Democrats who argue that the Senate leadership, led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, ceded too much ground in pursuit of a deal that temporarily reopens the government without addressing root causes or restoring public trust.

“The American people deserve a government that works for them, not one that folds when the fight gets tough,” Dibble concluded. “Leadership isn’t about giving in when it’s hard — it’s about clarity of purpose and the courage to stand together for what’s right.”

Background and Context

• The 2025 federal government shutdown, lasting 41 days, became the longest in U.S. history, surpassing the 2018–2019 standoff.
• According to the Associated Press, the Senate vote passed 60–40, allowing federal agencies to resume operations.
• Reporting from Politico and TIME Magazine confirms that the bipartisan deal drew sharp criticism from progressive Democrats who viewed it as a “surrender” that fails to secure critical health care protections.
• The ACA premium tax credits, established under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, are set to expire at the end of 2025, potentially increasing costs for middle-class families by hundreds of dollars per month.

Key Takeaway

Senator Scott Dibble’s statement captures a broader national debate over how Democrats should wield power in times of crisis — whether to compromise for short-term relief or fight for long-term protections for working families.

By condemning the deal and applauding Minnesota’s federal delegation for voting “no,” Dibble positioned himself as a leading progressive voice calling for moral leadership, economic justice, and unwavering support for affordable health care.

MinneapoliMedia