Senate Democrats aren’t keen on an offer being weighed by GOP leadership that could end the shutdown. However, some see it as “progress” on a log jam that on Thursday stretched into its ninth day.
The possible GOP olive branch would be an assurance on a future stand-alone vote to extend expiring Obamacare subsidies that are at the center of Democrats’ demands to reopen the government.
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“We need a lot more than just, ‘we’re going to have one vote in the Senate.’ But it’s progress,” Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) said.
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) said the notion of an offer “helps that [Republicans are] actually talking and thinking about things, [and] they don’t think they could just ram this through and run us over.”
Republicans’ intention would be to use negotiations once the government is reopened to determine the details of the extension vote, such as changes to eligibility and the time length.
Gallego expressed openness to guarantees on a vote in exchange for reopening the government, so long as funding would again expire prior to Nov. 1, when open enrollment begins for plans under the Affordable Care Act. Democrats would maintain their filibuster leverage to shut down the government if a tenable deal is not reached.
“If they want to reopen government for a short time period, like two to three weeks, but prior to Nov. 1, we want to use that time for us to negotiate a deal, I’m absolutely fine with doing that,” Gallego told the Washington Examiner. “I’m not going to stay here and pray — like take their word that we’re going to have some vote at some point later that may not happen.”
Notably, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) was cooler to the idea than his rank-and-file members, telling reporters he would not accept such an offer if one were extended. Like others in his caucus, he expressed reservations about any deal that does not also include assurances from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).
“It doesn’t do anything to make sure we get healthcare done,” Schumer said. “Where’s Johnson?”
The consideration by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and other GOP leaders, first reported by Semafor, had not been offered but was among the internal discussions as leaders search for an off-ramp to a shutdown that is putting paydays in jeopardy for troops and federal workers. Hours earlier, the Senate failed for a seventh time to pass dueling short-term spending bills to reopen the government.
Republicans believe guaranteeing a healthcare vote in exchange for Democratic support to break a filibuster on a “clean” funding measure would place increased political pressure on Democrats.
“I can’t see how they could actually, in good faith, keep the government closed if we had a vote on what they want,” a senior Senate GOP aide told the Washington Examiner. “It’s insane.”
Senate Republicans who favor extending the health insurance premium subsidies, such as Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins (R-ME), said changes to eligibility requirements, such as lowering income caps, are critical. She told reporters that her leadership should promise Democrats a vote on the matter.
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However, the most concrete aspect of the shutdown remains the uncertainty over when and how to end it.
“The only thing I know for sure is, until this shutdown is over, we’re not going to get any place on [subsidies],” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) said.