WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — As the longest federal government shutdown in history stretches on, U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., addressed residents’ concerns about health care, hopelessness about the state of the country and internal House politics at an Upper Valley town hall meeting on Thursday.
The shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, has disrupted federal programs such as heating fuel assistance, food benefits and reimbursements to state governments.
In her opening statement to the approximately 130 attendees, four state troopers and six security guards, Balint said that a dispute about health care between Republicans and Democrats led to the government shutdown.
As Affordable Care Act enhanced subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year, she said that Democrats would not accept any kind of agreement with Republicans that “does not include an actual bill that will extend the subsidies.”
Woodstock resident Susi Richardson, 61, said that she was worried about skyrocketing health care premiums and a possible closure of the state’s largest insurance provider, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont.
Balint began by saying that her focus has largely been on federal issues, such as the nearly $1 trillion cut to Medicaid from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that will specifically impact “hospital systems in rural areas” like Vermont.
Still, she said that the rises in premiums in the press have been “a little more extreme than people might experience.” Nevertheless, this doesn’t make them affordable, Balint added.
Referring to a fact sheet handed to her by staff, Balint said that premiums for a couple living together and making $82,000 would increase from $578 a month to $2,500 without tax credits, at which the crowd gasped.
Even though Republicans might be going after the Affordable Care Act or Medicaid, “it touches all of us because all of our premiums are going to go up and health care facilities are going to close,” Balint said.
“And so that’s why I’m not caving on this issue,” she added.
When attendees asked about feeling hopeless in the thick of President Donald Trump’s second term, Balint recommended building local networks.
“The most important thing that we can do right now here in Vermont is build a fiber of our communities back together,” Balint said. Vermonters must “continue to find opportunities to bring people together in your towns and in your community,” she added.
This is a primary reason that Balint holds these forums in the first place, she said.
“There is no substitute for getting us all in a room together,” Balint said. “And for people to see one another who are interested and engaged in these issues and maybe they make some friends, people that they didn’t know before, or make connections about how they can get more involved.”
Attendees also used the meeting to understand Congress’ inner workings.
East Thetford resident Robin Osborne, 66, asked why Republican members of Congress seem to be yielding their power to Trump instead of protecting the constitution.
In response, Balint said that there are “cracks” forming in the Republican Party, with closed-door conversations in opposition to Trump.
“When the elevator door closes, (Republicans) talk about how he’s absolutely screwing over their farmers if they’re in the soybean belt,” Balint said. “Or how their businesses are being destroyed by tariffs.”
And although there is a lot of fear surrounding Trump, Republicans are beginning to speak out more, such as Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., Balint said.
Some voiced concern about the demographic composition of audiences at events like the town hall, especially leading into midterm elections next November.
“As I look around, one thing that discourages me is the same thing I see at the rallies and such — that most of the people here look like me,” said Kenneth Sklaw, 66, of Wilmington, Vt. “You know, old white people.”
Balint began by mentioning recent elections that were largely influenced by younger voters, like that of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in New York City.
She added that the younger generation is engaged in politics in their own way, and the older generation ought to treat them with humility.
“We have to have people within our party who are willing to listen more than talk,” Balint said.
Sklaw said that driving an hour and a half from Wilmington was “worth it.”
“We really need to be making our voices heard,” Sklaw said in a queue leading to Balint after the forum. “And we need to let our representatives know how we’re feeling.”
Balint said that the government shutdown, especially as a part of a House of Representatives that hasn’t met since Oct. 1, will hopefully end with a meeting with both chambers and the president.
Until then, there will be a few “show votes” from Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, that “he knows he doesn’t have votes for,” and that he knows his position of not extending the enhanced subsidies is “not popular,” Balint said after the meeting.