Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he offered Democrats a chance to address their top priority — expanding subsidies for Affordable Care (ACA) — but the move was not enough to end the government shutdown. “I told them. I said, and I said, ‘We’re willing to have the conversation.’ I said, ‘If you need a vote, we can ensure you get a vote by a certain date.’ At some point, Democrats have to take yes for an answer,” Thune told MSNBC in an interview that aired Thursday. Schumer rejects GOP claims Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pushed back against Thune’s claims, saying Republicans have not formally proposed a vote. “Look, we’re not negotiating in public. Plain and simple. Leader Thune has not come to me with any proposal at this point,” Schumer said Thursday afternoon. Democrats have demanded health care solutions to prevent a rise in premiums for low- and middle-income Americans before supporting any government funding. Shutdown Continues, 10th GOP Funding Bill Fails The Senate failed for the 10th time on Thursday (October 16) to advance the GOP’s government funding bill. Lawmakers are expected to leave Washington later in the day, making the shutdown likely to last at least until Monday. Thune sought a procedural vote on a bill to fund the Defense Department for the full year and secure troop salaries, but Democrats blocked debate. Thune: Government must reopen before ACA talks Thune emphasized that reopening the government is the first step to discussing health care reforms. He reiterated that while a conversation and vote can be guaranteed, an outcome cannot. “There is a way forward, I believe, but it has to include reforms, and can I guarantee an outcome? No. And that’s what people want to see — do we guarantee that it will succeed. I can’t guarantee that it will succeed. I can guarantee that there will be a process and you will get a vote,” Thune said. Republicans maintain position Speaker Mike Johnson echoed Thune’s comments, saying no health care outcomes can be promised. “It’s not possible for Leader Thune to guarantee Chuck Schumer an outcome on that because we haven’t completed those deliberations. I mean, it’s as simple as that,” Johnson said Thursday morning. Thune added that both parties have a shared interest in keeping health care costs down, but negotiations must begin after the government reopens. Democrats Demand Immediate Action Democrats are holding firm, pushing for a deal that addresses health care as they reopen the government. Schumer criticized the lack of immediate engagement from GOP leaders. “The American people are facing one of the most devastating crises they’ve ever faced in terms of costs, and we still haven’t heard a peep about any negotiations with Johnson or with Thune,” Schumer said. Uncertain end to shutdown Thune declined to predict when the shutdown would end, including whether it would end before Thanksgiving. “I hope it doesn’t last through Thanksgiving because it’s going to hurt the American people a lot,” he said.
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