Roughly 20 senators met Monday night in a bid to keep the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies alive as the month-end deadline looms. Roughly 20 senators met Monday night at the invitation of Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), using a proposal she co-authored with Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) as a springboard for discussion. The plan calls for a two-year extension of the ACA tax credits and includes reforms designed to appeal to conservative voters.
Bipartisan Momentum
Collins told reporters after the meeting that the atmosphere was practical and devoid of grandstanding. “There is widespread support for producing a result,” she said, adding, “There was no grandstanding. People were very practical and they want a result.” Her words reflected the optimism of key negotiators who expect a framework of a deal by the end of the week.
Despite the positive tone, senators warned that a deal before the holiday break is unlikely. “We expect a realistic target in January,” Collins added, noting that the deadline for extending the subsidies is fast approaching. The group includes members from across the political spectrum, including leadership teams, moderates, and both conservative and progressive camps.
The meeting followed a recent chamber vote that rejected two partisan health-care bills. A Republican-led measure from Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) sought to shift subsidy funding to health-savings accounts, but it failed on a nearly party-line vote. The Democratic proposal, which Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) put on the floor as part of the government-reopening deal, would have extended enhanced subsidies for three years.
Four Republicans-Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Dan Sullivan (Alaska), Josh Hawley (Mo.), and Collins-supported the Democratic bill, and senators credited the failed votes as a catalyst for renewed bipartisan effort. Sullivan, who is up for reelection next year, told reporters, “I think sometimes, Democrat bill, Republican bill – fail, fail – maybe helps with the momentum.” He emphasized the stakes for Alaskans facing a subsidy cliff.
Attendees exchanged a wide array of ideas and concerns during the hour-plus meeting. Discussions covered guardrails for subsidies, the number of years to extend, and potential reforms to the tax credit structure. Collins highlighted the possibility of extending open enrollment, noting that most state exchanges allow sign-ups until Jan. 15 but anyone who wanted insurance on Jan. 1 had to be signed up by Monday.
Key Proposals and Discussions
Republicans raised the abortion issue, pushing for a Hyde-Amendment-like provision that would bar federal funds from covering abortion services in any health-care package. The proposal reflects ongoing partisan battles over the scope of federal health-care funding. It added another layer of complexity to the negotiations.
The meeting also aimed to temper the heated rhetoric that has simmered for weeks. Democrats accuse Republicans of keeping the subsidy deadline alive to influence the upcoming midterm elections, while Republicans accuse Democrats of allowing costs to soar by letting subsidies expire. Both sides have framed the debate as a moral and fiscal crisis.
Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) expressed a cautiously optimistic view. “I think we’re in a … very positive approach to try to solve the problem,” he said, and added, “It’s perilously close to something called legislating, which used to be common in the Senate and hasn’t been in a long time.” His comments underscore the historic nature of the potential legislation.
Nevertheless, pessimism remains among lawmakers who doubt a deal is achievable before the extended deadline. The abbreviated runway for negotiations has heightened concerns about reaching the necessary 60 votes. The Senate Majority Leader, John Thune, told reporters, “Those conversations continue, but there isn’t anything I would say at the moment … that can probably be something signed into law.”
Other senior leaders offered blunt assessments of the challenge. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), a member of Democratic leadership, remarked, “Lots of people have been able to pull legislative rabbits out of a hat,” highlighting the difficulty of producing bipartisan legislation in the current climate.
Political Dynamics and Challenges
Republican moderates have warned that allowing health-care costs to spike could cost them in the midterms. Their concerns contrast with conservatives who have long opposed extending subsidies under the ACA, a policy they have resisted for more than a decade. This split within the GOP adds another layer of complexity to the negotiations.
In the House, leadership is preparing to vote on a GOP-crafted health-care package that does not include a subsidy extension. An amendment proposed by moderates to address the subsidies hit major roadblocks, reflecting the partisan divide. The House action underscores the different paths the chambers are pursuing.
Three active discharge petitions are in play-two from GOP moderates and one from Democratic leaders-each capable of forcing a bill to the floor if enough signatures are collected. The petitions represent an alternative route to bring the subsidy extension to a vote, but their success remains uncertain.
The Senate’s bipartisan group faces the reality that a 60-vote majority may be out of reach. Thune’s comment that he is “not terribly optimistic” about achieving the necessary votes reflects the cautious stance of Senate leadership. The urgency of the deadline, however, keeps the negotiations alive.
The meeting’s atmosphere was described as practical and solution-focused, with senators exchanging ideas rather than engaging in partisan posturing. Collins emphasized that “People were very practical and they want a result,” underscoring the focus on outcomes over rhetoric.
House and Senate Status
House leadership plans to vote on the GOP package this week, which excludes an extension of the subsidies. The absence of subsidy provisions in the House bill highlights the divergent priorities between the chambers. The Senate’s bipartisan effort remains separate from the House action.
The Senate’s bipartisan group continues to meet through the weekend into Monday, with the aim of crafting a compromise that satisfies both parties. However, the lack of a clear path to a 60-vote majority makes the prospects uncertain. The group’s progress is being closely watched by lawmakers and the public alike.
Senator Collins and Senator Moreno’s proposal remains the central point of discussion, with its two-year extension and conservative-friendly reforms. The proposal’s viability hinges on the ability to secure enough bipartisan support to reach the 60-vote threshold. The outcome will shape the ACA’s future for millions of Americans.
Key Takeaways
- Roughly 20 senators met Monday night to push for a two-year ACA subsidy extension. – The proposal includes conservative-friendly reforms and a focus on practical solutions. – A deal before the holiday break is unlikely, with January seen as a more realistic target.
The bipartisan effort underscores the urgency of extending the ACA subsidies before the month-end deadline. While optimism remains among key negotiators, the path to a 60-vote majority remains uncertain, leaving the future of the subsidies in a state of limbo.
