Democrats face possible ACA letdown
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Illustration: Rebecca Zisser/Axios
Democrats had a big night in Tuesday's elections, but in Congress all they could end up getting on health care is a vote on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Why it matters: A guaranteed vote, but no actual agreement that can be signed into law, would be a tough pill for many Democrats to swallow.
- They'll be able to talk up their victories in the Virginia and New Jersey governors' races, which could bolster some Democrats against backing down, but the results may not be enough to change the ultimate outcome on Capitol Hill.
Driving the news: There were signs on Capitol Hill on Tuesday that the situation was coming to an inflection point, with more moderate members looking for a way out of the shutdown.
- Senate Democrats had a much longer than usual closed-door meeting that stretched on for over two hours.
- Many senators were tight-lipped to reporters leaving the meeting, often a sign that a breakthrough is close, with several declining to comment on whether an ACA vote would be enough to satisfy them.
- Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), asked about an ACA vote, said only that the caucus "discussed all of the options."
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) softened on his previous demands for an "ironclad" deal on the subsidies, saying yesterday that "we will evaluate in good faith any bipartisan agreement that emerges from the Senate," Axios' Andrew Solender reported.
What they're saying: "I can only tell you that negotiations are going on and they're good, they're constructive," said Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.).
- On the GOP side, one of the senators involved in talks, Mike Rounds (S.D.), said he thinks Democrats are "tired of this."
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune (S.D.) has "said from day one that he would provide them with a vote," Rounds said. "What he can't do is provide them with an outcome."
- A potential deal could also include action on certain full-year appropriations bills.
The other side: Some Democrats say just a vote on the ACA subsidies is not enough.
- "A future vote that fails doesn't help anybody in this country who's about to have their lives ruined by premium increases that are going to cause untold death and destruction," Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) told reporters Tuesday morning before the lunch.
