Senate Democrats unveiled an alternative plan Friday to reopen the government, offering a one-year extension of expiring Obamacare subsidies and calling on Republicans to simply say “yes.” The proposal comes as the partial federal government shutdown stretches into record-breaking territory.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced the plan on the Senate floor Friday afternoon, speaking in front of the full Democratic caucus to underscore the party’s newfound unity following their Election Night sweep earlier this week.
“After 14 failed votes on the House-passed continuing resolution (CR), it’s clear we need to try something different,” Schumer said. “We are ready to clear the way to quickly pass a government funding bill that includes healthcare affordability. Leader Thune just needs to add a clean, one-year extension of the [Obamacare] tax credits to the CR so that we can immediately address rising health care costs. That’s not a negotiation. It’s an extension of current law — something we do all the time around here.”
The plan also includes the creation of a bipartisan committee to negotiate the future of Obamacare subsidies once the government reopens, a nod to the GOP’s insistence that negotiations only occur after funding is restored.
“Now the ball is in the Republicans’ court,” Schumer said. “We need Republicans to just say ‘yes.’”
Republican Response Remains Unclear
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and his Republican colleagues were set to meet Friday afternoon to discuss the Democratic proposal, though no decision had been announced.
Earlier, Thune had planned a procedural vote on the House-passed continuing resolution, which he intended to amend into a “minibus” package containing three spending bills to reopen the government. That plan was scrapped Friday morning, with Thune noting that “the wheels came off” during bipartisan discussions on the approach.
Meanwhile, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) pushed a bill that would guarantee federal workers and the military are paid during this and future shutdowns, seeking to fast-track it through unanimous consent, which bypasses a full Senate vote.
Democrats Push Back on Fast-Track Proposal
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) blocked Johnson’s bill despite amendments ensuring furloughed federal employees would be paid, citing concerns that it gave President Donald Trump too much discretion to determine which employees are paid and when.
Thune criticized the move, questioning why Senate Democrats would object to legislation to end the hardships of the shutdown.
“In other words, we’re going to keep federal employees hostage,” Thune said. “It’s about leverage, isn’t it, that’s what y’all have been saying?” referring to previous statements made by Democratic leadership about their refusal to reopen.
Democrats are hoping to demonstrate responsiveness on healthcare, while Republicans insist that funding the government should proceed policy negotiations.
As Congress adjourns for the weekend, all eyes remain on whether the parties can find a compromise or whether the shutdown will continue into another week.
