Democrats Make Compromise Offer On Ending Shutdown
By: HuffPost
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats on Friday offered Republicans a deal to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history: Democrats would vote to reopen the government in exchange for a yearlong extension of expiring health insurance subsidies.
"After so many failed votes, it's clear we need to try something different," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a Senate floor speech on Friday. "All Republicans have to do is say 'yes' to extend current law for one year."
The offer is not much different from Democrats' basic demand for the past six weeks — a vote for government funding in exchange for an extension of Affordable Care Act health care subsidies — but it's significantly narrower than what Democrats have previously demanded.
The Democrats' official alternative to the Republicans' basic government funding bill includes a permanent extension of the expiring health care tax credits, plus a repeal of the Medicaid cuts Republicans enacted earlier this summer, plus new curbs on President Donald Trump's ability to cut spending through so-called rescissions.
However, unlike House Democratic leadership, which ruled out a one-year extension of ACA subsidies last month, Senate Democrats have kept their demands more open-ended, insisting only that Republicans come to the table and negotiate with them on health care.
Schumer on Friday said his offer would respect the GOP's position not to negotiate with Democrats over health care until the government is open since it would simply include "an extension of current law." He said the offer also includes a new bipartisan committee to negotiate a future health care compromise.
It's not clear yet whether Republicans will go for Schumer's proposal. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) told HuffPost it would depend on how Democrats "treat the Hyde Amendment," which prohibits the use of federal funds for abortion.
A Republican leadership aide trashed the new offer in a message to HuffPost: "Democrats are openly negotiating with themselves. A total sign of desperation from 'Leader Schumer' as the sane members of his caucus ready to jump ship. Confronted with the consequences of their own actions, Democrats admit it's time to end the shutdown they started."
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) called it a "horrible" idea.
"They have to be willing to fix Obamacare. They have to make a commitment to fix Obamacare before we move on," Marshall said.
Democrats' new offer to end the shutdown comes as the negative effects of the funding impasse get worse and worse, with millions of households missing food benefits, hundreds of thousands of federal employees working without pay, and hundreds of flights being canceled or delayed.
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While Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are at risk for more than 20 million households, Democrats have remained focused on the lapse of health care subsidies that help more than 20 million Americans buy health insurance on ACA exchanges.
"Unless this United States Senate acts, the people we represent are going to lose health care," Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said on the Senate floor.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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If the Republicans reject this the blame will fall even more on them.
If this last election meant anything democrats won't have to worry about republicans blocking it next year, there won't be enough republicans left.
I hate this attitude. These people are not interested in the welfare of the American people. They only care about "winning" (however that gets defined) at political gamesmanship. And it's all about spin. So if Democrats stick to their guns, they're losing. If they negotiate a compromise, they're losing. If they just do exactly what Republicans want, they're losing. That is the most important thing to people like this.
Republicans are going to be blamed. Period. Doesn't matter if Republicans accept or reject Democrats' phony offer.
Simply changing the time the overly generous expanded Premium Tax Credits are extended is not an honest attempt to achieve compromise. It would be different if Democrats offered something tangible, such as removing the greatly expanded subsidies for those with incomes above 400% of poverty level.
Even if the Senate agrees to a 1 year extension, that will still require House approval. And there's no guarantee Trump won't veto the bill. Republicans don't have anything to lose since they're going to be blamed anyway.