The spending plan<\/a>, which does not include an extension of the Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year, has frustrated many Democrats who spent seven weeks pressuring Republicans to extend the tax credits. It would, however, fund the government through January, reinstate federal workers who were laid off during the shutdown and ensure that federal employees who were furloughed receive back pay.<\/p>\n Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) also promised senators a vote in December<\/a> that would put lawmakers on record on the healthcare subsidies. Thune said in a speech Monday that he was \u201cgrateful that the end is in sight\u201d with the compromise.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s get it done, get it over to the House so we can get this government open,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Senate Democrats who defected have argued that a December vote on subsidies is the best deal they could get as the minority party, and that forcing vulnerable Republicans in the chamber to vote on the issue will help them win ahead of next year\u2019s midterm elections.<\/p>\n As the Senate prepared to vote on the deal Monday, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader of the chamber, continued to reiterate his opposition to what he called a \u201cRepublican bill.\u201d Schumer, who has faced backlash from Democrats<\/a> for losing members of his caucus, said the bill \u201cfails to do anything of substance to fix America\u2019s healthcare crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) speaks to reporters about the government shutdown.<\/p>\n (Mariam Zuhaib \/ Associated Press)<\/p>\n Thune\u2019s promise to allow a vote in the Senate does not guarantee a favorable outcome for Democrats, who would need to secure Republican votes for passage through the chamber. And the chance to address healthcare costs will be made even harder by Johnson, who has not committed to holding a vote on his chamber in the future.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not promising anybody anything,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m going to let the process play out.\u201d<\/p>\n House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), meanwhile, told reporters that House Democrats will continue to make the case that extending the subsidies is what Americans are demanding from elected officials, and that there is still a fight to be waged in the chamber \u2014 even if it is a long shot.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we are going to continue to do as House Democrats is to partner with our allies throughout America is to wage the fight, to stay in the Colosseum,\u201d Jeffries said at a news conference.<\/p>\n Some Republicans have agreed with Democrats during the shutdown that healthcare costs need to be addressed, but it is unlikely that House Democrats will be able to build enough bipartisan support to block the deal in the chamber.<\/p>\n Still, Jeffries said the \u201cloudmouths\u201d in the Republican Party who want to do something about healthcare costs have an opportunity to act now that the House is expected to be back in session.<\/p>\n \u201cThey can no longer hide. They can no longer hide,\u201d Jeffries said. \u201cThey are not going to be able to hide this week when they return from their vacation.\u201d<\/p>\n Democrats believed that fighting for an extension of healthcare tax credits, even at the expense of shutting down the government, would highlight their messaging on affordability, a political platform that helped lead their party to victory in elections across the country last week.<\/p>\n If the tax credits are allowed to lapse at the end of the year, millions of Americans are expected to see their monthly premiums double. <\/p>\n In California, premiums for federally subsidized plans available through Covered California will soar by 97% on average next year.<\/a><\/p>\n Senate Majority Leader John Thune answers questions Monday about a possible end to the government shutdown after eight members of the Democratic caucus broke ranks and voted with Republicans.<\/p>\n (J. Scott Applewhite \/ Associated Press)<\/p>\n California\u2019s U.S. senators, Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, were among the Democrats who voted against the deal to reopen the government because it did not address healthcare costs. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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