Senate Majority Chief John Thune (R-S.D.) says Congress may keep away from a authorities shutdown subsequent week if Democrats “dial back” their calls for so as to add a whole bunch of billions of {dollars} in new well being care spending to a short-term authorities funding invoice.
“I’m a big believer that there’s always a way out,” Thune advised the Related Press in an interview Thursday. “And I think there are off-ramps here, but I don’t think that the negotiating position, at least at the moment, that the Democrats are trying to exert here is going to get you there.”
Thune warned if Democrats don’t again off their calls for so as to add roughly $1.2 trillion in well being care-related spending to the federal government funding invoice, “we’re probably plunging forward toward the shutdown.”
Thune additionally stated Democrats shouldn’t be shocked that the White Home finances workplace is directing companies to make use of a authorities shutdown as a possibility to think about mass layoffs of employees at applications that don’t align with President Trump’s priorities.
“Everyone knows Russ Vought,” he stated, referring to the director of the Workplace of Administration and Price range, who’s an avowed opponent of deficit spending.
However Thune stated Democrats can keep away from mass layoffs of federal employees by cutting down their calls for for concessions from Trump on well being care.
“It’s all avoidable,” Thuen stated. “And if they don’t want to go down that path, there’s a way to avoid going down that path.”
Thune stated he hopes that eight Senate Democrats may have the braveness to buck their celebration leaders and vote for the clear, Home-passed persevering with decision when it comes again to the Senate flooring early subsequent week.
“What would eight Democrats be willing to support?” Thune requested. “In terms of a path forward, or at least understanding what that path forward looks like.”
Thune has stated he’s prepared to deal with the expiration of enhanced medical insurance premium subsidies on the finish of this 12 months however has emphasised that spending tens of billions of {dollars} to increase these subsidies should be mentioned within the broader context of decreasing waste and fraud underneath the Reasonably priced Care Act, which is also called ObamaCare.
Democrats have additionally demanded a full restoration of the almost $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts made by the One Huge, Stunning Invoice Act, which Trump signed into regulation in July. These spending cuts offset the price of making key company tax breaks everlasting.
