Marshall sketches possible ACA subsidy compromise
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Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) during a Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing. Photo: Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Republican Sen. Roger Marshall's preference is to let COVID-era enhanced Obamacare subsidies expire at the end of the year — but he is also staking out an early compromise position.
Why it matters: Extending the subsidies is Democrats' top demand in exchange for avoiding — or ending — a government shutdown. GOP leadership has said now is not the time, but the matter will have to be decided on by year's end.
- "I would prefer for [the subsidies] to end like it was planned — that would be my first choice," Marshall (R-Kan.) told Axios on Monday in a sit-down interview.
- But at a minimum, he wants to return to an income cap of 400% of the poverty level, arguing that "50% to 60% of these enhanced premiums are going to people making over 400% of poverty level — that's $120,000 for a family of four."
Between the lines: GOP support for extending the subsidies has largely come from moderates such as Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), as well as populist Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.).
- Marshall is a staunch conservative who wants to see the federal government head back to pre-pandemic spending levels. He also cares about addressing the rising costs of health care by backing price transparency bills, for example.
- However, he is sketching out an early compromise plan for ACA subsidies that he could eventually support.
Zoom out: Marshall said he has discussed his idea with Senate leadership and the White House.
- He said he would not speak for the White House, but that the discussions "are bigger than just the subsidies. I think that it's a small piece of the puzzle."
- He said most of the Senate GOP conference is nowhere near consensus. "I think it's going to be debated very strongly, and we've just begun the debate," he said.
- "I think that there's a significant number of us who would say, look, it was a COVID measure only, and it's time to end that. There's going to be a number of us as well that want to extend probably all of it."
The bottom line: When asked how important President Trump's voice will be on the ACA issue, Marshall said he has "the biggest bullhorn in the country — around the world right now. So I think it is largely his call."
- But he added that he anticipates Trump will take advice from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.)
