(DCNF)—Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer declined Tuesday to rule out triggering another government shutdown as Democrats press Republicans to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies.
President Donald Trump ended the longest government shutdown in U.S. history on Nov. 12 by signing a spending package that funded the government through the end of January and restored pay to affected federal workers. During an exchange with reporters, Schumer repeatedly declined to give a direct answer when reporters asked whether Democrats would again risk a government shutdown by tying federal funding to their health care demands ahead of the Jan. 30 deadline.
“Mr. Chairman, you mentioned January 1. There is also a January 30 deadline to fund the government. Do you have any expectation that Democrats might tie back to ACA like you did last time to try to get a result?” one reporter asked.
“Look, just as I said, it’s on the Republicans that we haven’t had health care done after January 1. It’s very, very hard to put it back in the bottom,” Schumer said.
When asked explicitly whether Democrats would vote to shut down the government on Jan. 30 if they fail to secure an extension, Schumer again avoided a clear commitment.
“As I said, the bottom line is very simple, and that is that the way to solve this problem, because the toothpaste is already out of the tube, is get it done by January 1. The Republicans, if they care so much and feel the heat, they should make sure they pass our bill,” Schumer said.
When pressed by reporters about whether Democrats would again use a looming government funding deadline as leverage to force action on health care, Schumer refused to give a clear answer.
“That doesn’t sound like you’ve arrived on a strategy for how to handle January 30. So is that in play? Yes or no? The health care issue, the same as it was in the government shutdown this fall?” one reporter asked.
“I answered the question,” Schumer said.
“That doesn’t sound clear, though,” one reporter pointed out.
“The bottom line is very clear. You can’t do it after January 1, especially when the issues of Hyde and all these people. It’s expired already. It’s not the same as it was before. Once it expires, the toothpaste is out of the tube,” Schumer answered.
Government funding is set to expire Jan. 30, and Congress has yet to pass any additional appropriations bills since the record-breaking shutdown ended in November, according to Congress.gov and the Congressional Research Service. As part of the shutdown agreement, Trump signed three appropriations bills funding roughly 10% of the federal government and SNAP through the fiscal year, leaving the remaining nine bills — about 90% of federal spending — unfunded unless lawmakers pass them or approve a continuing resolution, CRS data shows.
The signing ceremony followed immediately after the House approved a Senate-passed funding package in a 222–209 vote that largely split along party lines, with Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Greg Steube of Florida breaking with Republicans while six Democrats backed the measure.
Democrats ended the shutdown without securing their central demand, an extension of enhanced Obamacare premium tax credits. Senate Majority Leader John Thune agreed to schedule a December vote on a Democratic ACA subsidies bill, an offer that House Speaker Mike Johnson has not matched. The bill faces long odds of clearing the Senate’s 60-vote threshold.
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