Main Street Alliance Statement on Congressional Inaction Over ACA Subsidies and Shutdown Crisis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2025
CONTACT
press@mainstreetalliance.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Main Street Alliance today released the following statement in response to Congressional Republicans' failure to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, leaving small business owners, working families, and federal employees caught in a manufactured crisis.
“Working families shouldn’t have to choose between affordable healthcare and a functioning government,” said Richard Trent, Executive Director of Main Street Alliance. “Yet here we are again—watching lawmakers pit everyday Americans against one another while protecting tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. This isn’t fiscal responsibility; it’s moral negligence.”
The ongoing refusal of congressional Republicans to negotiate over Main Street’s healthcare has forced Americans into impossible tradeoffs. Their refusal to negotiate around ACA subsidies comes as millions face cuts to SNAP benefits and the continued risk of government shutdowns that threaten jobs, healthcare, and community stability.
Meanwhile, $4 trillion in tax cuts remain on the books for the wealthiest Americans.
Across Main Streets, small businesses are feeling the strain. As families cut back spending, consumer confidence has plummeted—mirroring the steep decline in small business optimism.
“It’s not sustainable. The people making these decisions in Washington clearly don’t understand what it takes to run a small business—or a family”, added Richard Trent.
As Congress continues to stall, Main Street Alliance will redouble its efforts to educate lawmakers in every state on how unaffordable healthcare and economic insecurity are hollowing out local economies.
“While Wall Street celebrates its first trillionaire,” Trent added, “Main Street is tightening its belt and praying it can make rent. Until healthcare is affordable for every family and entrepreneur, we’ll keep lifting up the stories of those who are paying the price for Washington’s dysfunction.”
About Main Street Alliance
Main Street Alliance is a network of 30,000 small business owners in every corner of the country, working together to take back control of our Main Streets. We know what’s really happening in our communities because we live it every day. Together, we’re driving the economic conversation too often dominated by massive corporations, winning policies that let small businesses thrive, and plugging entrepreneurs back into civic life that’s excluded us.
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