Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer leaned heavily into Republican infighting on Wednesday, seizing on GOP divisions to pressure lawmakers into backing a three-year extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies.
With the expiration of enhanced subsidies looming, Republicans have yet to coalesce around a single plan. The conference remains split, with factions debating between replacing subsidies with health savings accounts (HSAs), pushing for short-term extensions, or letting the aid expire entirely.
Schumer highlighted this discord during an appearance on “The Lead with Jake Tapper,” arguing that the GOP is “too busy fighting with each other” to produce a viable alternative.
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“[Democratic Sen.] Peter Welch said, ‘If the Republicans can deliver votes,’ they can’t. Nope. They are busy fighting with each other with 100 different proposals,” Schumer told Tapper. “And none of their proposals extend the ACA credits by a day, let alone a month, a year.”
According to Schumer, the only way to avert a “health care calamity” on January 1 is for 13 Republicans to break ranks and support the Democratic bill currently on the floor. He warned that failure to act would lead to “dramatic increases” in monthly health care costs for Americans.
Schumer directed specific blame at Senate Majority Leader John Thune for blocking the extension efforts. “The Republicans are adamant. John Thune got on the floor and said, ‘We will not extend the ACA,’” Schumer noted.
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Despite the pressure, the Democratic proposal faces a steep uphill battle. Senate Republican leaders announced Tuesday that they will advance their own competing legislation alongside the Democratic plan. After weeks of deliberation, the GOP has largely rallied behind a model focused on health savings accounts, arguing it delivers aid directly to patients while lowering federal spending.
Under the recent shutdown-ending agreement, Thune granted Democrats a floor vote on their proposal for December 11. However, with GOP senators reportedly united in their opposition, the measure has virtually no path to the 60 votes needed for passage.
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