Senate GOP Trial Balloon Gets Grounded

Punchbowl News: “The idea, which Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Majority Whip John Barrasso say is under discussion, would involve giving Democrats a commitment to hold a vote on an extension of the enhanced Obamacare premium tax credits. This would be in exchange for Democratic votes to reopen the government.”

“There are several caveats here, however. For starters, there have been no formal offers or bipartisan discussions at the leadership level. And senators from both parties who have been involved in the informal bipartisan talks are thus far batting it down.”

“Neither party is backing off from their public positions. Republicans still say Obamacare subsidy talks can’t happen until the government is open, and that they can’t promise a particular outcome on the issue. Democrats want guarantees that an Obamacare deal will materialize, pass both chambers and be signed into law by President Donald Trump before the Open Enrollment Period begins on Nov. 1. This is something that Speaker Mike Johnson is hesitant to commit to.”