Joan Esposito is joined by Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, candidate for U.S. Senate, who talks about the Senate deal to end the government shutdown. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), whose seat Stratton is seeking to win next November, has joined a group of Senate Democrats and one Independent to give Republicans the votes they needed to pass a continuing resolution that most Senate Democrats opposed. Republicans have refused to work with Democrats to negotiate an extension of expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits. The deal the Senate Democrats brokered with Republicans, which Stratton said she would have voted against, did not extend the credits.

"I really believe that this is one of those moments that reminds us that people really want to make sure that their needs are centered when we talk about what's important for them and their communities and their families," she said. "Affordability is important, and I can't think of another issue that really affects people's households and affordability than health care. And we were right there. We had to hold firm. And instead, we had eight Senate Democrats that bailed to Donald Trump and Republicans. And what did we get out of it? Nothing."

Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).

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