WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Senate is working fast to end the longest government shutdown in history. Late Monday night, lawmakers began voting on a deal that a few Democrats made with Republicans to get the government back up and running.
The shutdown might drag on a few more days while the House, which hasn’t met since mid-September, comes back to vote on this plan. President Trump has backed the bill, assuring that “we’re going to be opening up our country very quickly.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has set up multiple votes and hopes everything will be finalized “hours not days.” Speaker Mike Johnson has urged House members to return immediately, but an official notice for the House’s return will come once the Senate completes its votes.
After weeks of discussions, a few moderate Senate Democrats came to a decision to reopen the government. But this left many in their party unhappy since they wanted guaranteed health care subsidies. These subsidies for the Affordable Care Act are set to expire on January 1. Meanwhile, Republican leaders promised a vote on these subsidies in mid-December, but there’s no certainty that it will pass. Recent internet polls show that 78% of voters prioritize health care in legislative discussions, highlighting the urgency of the issue.
The agreement came after a group of former governors — New Hampshire’s Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, along with Maine’s Angus King — ended a stalemate on Sunday. They agreed to move forward on bipartisan spending bills, which would keep parts of the government funded until late January.
Some Democrats termed the vote a “mistake.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who previously faced backlash for his decisions, stated he could not support the bill this time after discussing it with fellow Democrats. “We will not give up the fight,” Schumer stated. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders called accepting the deal a “horrific mistake,” while others felt pressure to uphold the party’s stance following recent election gains.
Looking ahead, the future of health care subsidies remains unclear. Speaker Johnson has not committed to discussing them in the House. Some Republicans are open to extending the COVID-19 era tax credits, but there are calls for new limits on who can receive them. Others, including Trump, continue to debate whether to alter or eliminate the Affordable Care Act altogether.
This situation is ongoing, with many eyes focused on how lawmakers will handle health care in the near future. The outcome could significantly affect millions of Americans reliant on these subsidies, especially as premiums may surge if changes are made.
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