While congressional Democrats seek to link the extension of Affordable Care Act insurance subsidies to the budgetary negotiations, Republican leaders argue they are open to discussing the matter — but only after preventing a shutdown.
“The discussion about the Obamacare subsidies is a policy issue that needs resolution by year’s end … not right now, as we focus on maintaining government operations,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., stated on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
His remarks were echoed by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., who described the ACA, also referred to as Obamacare, as a program “in dire need of reform.”
“We recognize that there will need to be — hopefully, some initiatives taken to address the issues that Democrats have,” he noted on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.” “But you can’t accomplish this by Tuesday.”
Their statements dampened Democrats’ primary sticking point just days prior to the government potentially shutting down.
Should the ACA tax credits expire at the year’s end, premiums may spike for millions of Americans, a situation that could become a political liability for Republicans before the 2026 midterm elections.
With the budget deadline approaching, President Donald Trump is expected to convene on Monday with the four leading congressional officials — Johnson, Thune, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
This upcoming meeting follows Trump’s sudden cancellation of a meeting with Democratic leaders last week, asserting that no meeting “could possibly result in any productivity.”
The outcome of the last-minute meeting is uncertain regarding whether it will result in a resolution that prevents a shutdown on Tuesday at midnight.
“[Trump] wants to engage with Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries and simply attempt to persuade them to apply common sense and do what is right for the American people,” Speaker Johnson commented on Sunday.
Schumer, for his part, stated that the possibility of a government shutdown “hinges on the Republicans.”
“We require the meeting. It’s a preliminary step, but just a preliminary one. We need substantial negotiations,” Schumer mentioned on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
Democrats have consistently maintained that any proposed government funding must encompass an extension of the Obamacare tax credits.
They remained steadfast in their requests on Sunday.
“We truly need to pass legislation to guarantee the continuation of the Affordable Care Act tax credits,” Jeffries emphasized, cautioning that “notifications” are set to start being distributed to the millions of Americans who depend on these subsidies.
Conversely, Republicans contend that there is still time to negotiate a solution regarding the subsidies.
“That doesn’t need to happen until the year’s end,” Thune remarked during an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
“We can have that discussion, but prior to that, release the hostage, liberate the American people, keep the government functioning.”
To pass their continuing resolution through the Senate, Republicans will need eight Democrats to join them, said Thune, a scenario that currently appears challenging.
