As the U.S. government shutdown extends into its third week, Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) expressed on NBC's "Meet the Press" that a mere vote by Republicans to extend healthcare subsidies is insufficient to end the deadlock. Instead, he emphasized the need for genuine negotiations to address the looming healthcare crisis. "We need this corrected for the American people. For so many people, their health care is running toward a cliff," Kelly stated, underlining the urgency of the situation.

The shutdown, which reached its 12th day on Sunday, has been marked by a persistent demand from Democrats: they will agree to reopen the government if Republicans consent to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies. This issue sits at the heart of the current standoff, which Kelly argues is fundamentally about reducing healthcare costs for Americans. "It's not about winners and losers," Kelly remarked, condemning the politicization of the shutdown.

In a separate interview with CNN's "State of the Union," Kelly criticized President Donald Trump's approach to the shutdown, accusing him of politicizing federal governance and blaming Democrats unfairly. He highlighted the real-world impacts of the shutdown, including layoffs and the strain on American families, "These are people with families, and they have to pay rent. They have to put food on the table. We've never seen a president do anything like this before."

Furthermore, following the Trump administration's recent decision to begin laying off federal employees, Kelly called on GOP leaders to engage in meaningful dialogue with Democrats to find a solution. He stressed that the administration's actions are unnecessary and punitive, "They do not have to punish people that shouldn't find themselves in this position."

As negotiations continue, the stakes are high, with Kelly warning that without a resolution, "our healthcare system for 23 million people [is] about to drive over a cliff when these subsidies go away." The senator's call to action underscores the critical nature of the healthcare discussions at the heart of the government shutdown.