Democratic lawmakers have insisted any government funding deal include a permanent extension, but Republican leaders don’t even want to have the discussion until after a short-term funding bill has been passed.
GOP leaders face an internal debate. Frontline Republicans appear willing to vote for some kind of extension of the tax credits and don’t want to suffer the political consequences of their constituents seeing premium spikes.
But conservatives want nothing to do with the law and are urging leadership to let the enhanced subsidies expire.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) all met with President Trump at the White House on Monday but walked away without a deal.
According to Schumer, a rift is growing between Trump and GOP leadership.
“The particular focus was on health care. When we made these arguments it was clear there was a division or possible division between the president and the two Republican leaders,” Schumer said, referring to Thune and Johnson.
Schumer claimed Trump seemed to be unaware of the impending premium spikes expected to happen if the enhanced tax credits aren’t extended.
Leaders of both parties say they don’t plan to change course, even as a potential shutdown is now only one day away. If a deal isn’t reached, the federal government will shut down on Wednesday.
