Copyright Santa Clarita Valley Signal
By Chase Smith Contributing Writer House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said on Tuesday that House Democrats will oppose any bill that leaves out Affordable Care Act tax credits — after seven Senate Democrats and independent Angus King of Maine joined Republican senators to pass a shutdown-ending package 60-40 the day before. The bill now heads to the House, where a simple majority is sufficient to pass it. “House Democrats will strongly oppose any legislation that does not decisively address the Republican health care crisis,” Jeffries said on “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown” on Tuesday. He said in a Monday press conference that party leaders would sit with “any Republicans anytime, anyplace, anywhere, in order to find a bipartisan path forward,” but that they were “not going to support a partisan Republican spending bill that continues to gut the health care of the American people.” The split within the party widened just before the Senate vote as the Democrats who joined the GOP were close to an agreement to end the shutdown. Following that agreement, progressive Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., called for new leadership in the Senate. “It’s time for [Sen. Chuck Schumer] to be replaced,” Khanna said. “He is not meeting the moment. He’s out of touch with where the party’s base is.” When asked about Khanna’s remarks, Jeffries defended his counterpart in the other chamber. “Leader Schumer did not bless this agreement,” Jeffries said. “He voted against it.” He called the last seven weeks “a valiant fight” by the majority of Senate Democrats and said those who supported the bill “are going to have to explain themselves to their constituents and to the American people.” Other Democrats echoed opposition. House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark called the bill “a grave betrayal of everyday Americans.” “House Democrats are not giving up,” she said. Moderate Democrats also moved against the package. The New Democrat Coalition announced an official position opposing the Senate bill after a membership vote. Chair Brad Schneider said: “New Dems were clear from the very beginning: Any bipartisan deal to open the government must necessarily address the Republican-created health care crisis and prevent out-of-pocket health care costs from skyrocketing for tens of millions of Americans.” Health care is at the core of the dispute. Democrats want to reverse Medicaid cuts included in President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act and extend ACA tax subsidies set to expire at the end of 2025. They cite projections that the Medicaid changes could lead to major coverage losses and that premiums could rise sharply without the subsidies. Republicans have said that the Medicaid provisions target waste, fraud, and abuse and that Democrats’ demands go too far. Trump and allies have said the changes prevent benefits from going to people who should not receive them. “We’ll never agree to give any substantial money, or any money to, really, prisoners, illegals, to come into our country, and I think the Democrats understand that,” Trump told reporters as the deal took shape. GOP leaders have been more open to considering an ACA subsidy extension later, but only after reopening the government. As part of the Senate agreement, Republican leaders promised a December vote on the subsidies. Supporters say such a measure could draw enough Republican backing in the Senate; it is unclear whether the House will take it up. Jeffries said Democrats want a concrete extension, not only a promise of a vote. He tied the push to broader costs facing families. The House is expected to take up the Senate bill Wednesday. Jeffries said Democrats will review the text when it arrives but reiterated their stance of wanting ACA credits taken up now. Joseph Lord contributed to this report.
