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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSchumer says Democrats will offer 3-year extension of health care tax credits
Washington Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Thursday that Democrats will offer a clean three-year extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits for a vote next week, when the issue that was at the center of the shutdown fight comes center stage.
"This is the bill, a clean three-year extension of ACA tax credits, that Democrats will bring to the floor of the Senate for a vote next Thursday, and every single Democrat will support it," Schumer said on the Senate floor Thursday morning.
The announcement comes after a group of Senate Democrats last month secured a vote to address the expiring tax credits as part of the deal to reopen the government. Millions of Americans are due to see their health insurance premiums skyrocket in the new year without action from Congress.
Democrats had the opportunity to present the legislation of their choice. Some moderates sought a compromise position that would stand a chance at earning the 60 votes needed to advance. Schumer's decision to seek a clean extension means the bill is highly unlikely to pick up support from Republicans, although the move so will force GOP members to take a politically uncomfortable vote. Republicans rejected Schumer's offer of a clean extension toward the end of the government shutdown.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/schumer-says-democrats-offer-3-162156648.html
underpants
(194,221 posts)Bettie
(19,176 posts)but it won't be accepted.
Republicans won't vote for that...plus, Dems showed that it isn't a real priority.
They know that Dems will fold. Every. Single. Time. That's IF they have some leverage and right now, they have none.
Those subsidies were dead the second the Dems gave in on the shutdown.
InstantGratification
(409 posts)If this is truly a clean extension of the tax credits, Rs will own this from now til the midterms. As EarlG put it in another post, a 13 point shift blue is a seismic change. My prediction: This vote will fail. The tax credits will expire. Those people in poor, rural red areas will feel the pain the most and that will shift things even farther blue. I don't like this either, but at this point, it's all we've got to work with.
To quote the movie Full Metal Jacket, "It's a big shit sandwich and we've all got to take a bite." Those rural red trump voters will be taking a bigger bite than most blue areas.
groundloop
(13,525 posts)My daughter is self employed and purchases health insurance through the ACA exchange. With the amount that she earns she qualifies for a decent credit, losing that will be a huge hit to her ability to keep her business going.
I'm totally pissed off by this, while I understand the Democratic position of forcing Magat Senators into the uncomfortable position of voting against the best interest of the American people I still think it would have been a better strategy to hold out.
InstantGratification
(409 posts)But unless someone gets us access to a Delorean and a flux capacitor, we can't do anything about it now. This is all we have left to us at this point. I'm not happy about it, but I want Every. Single. One. Of. Those. Motherfuckers. to pay a steep political price for this. That is where my rage is focused now. That can still influence the cause in our favor. A lot of PEOPLE will taste the pain because of this shit and that drives my anger, but the impact will fall on THEIR people even more.
One of my co-workers didn't have health care until the enhanced tax credits hit during covid. I can't wait to see it when he figures out that those expiring credits are the reason his premiums will go up so much that he has to drop coverage again. Right when he is facing an expensive knee surgery first quarter next year. I feel your daughter's pain. I feel it enough that I am actually looking forward to a life long friend finding out the "hard way".
I feel dirty for how much hate I have in me over this.
Deminpenn
(17,221 posts)a couple days ago that he supports an extension.
I think the calculus has changed for Rs since the govt re-opened.
tavernier
(14,141 posts)There are a LOT of people screaming at Congress to let them keep their healthcare and afford it. The screaming will get really loud if they screw them over and it will all but guarantee a blue wave at mid terms.