Jeffries says the “fight is not over” on health care subsidies as shutdown nears possible end
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told CBS News that Democrats will continue to push to extend a series of expiring health insurance subsidies as a measure. Government shutdown for 43 days is set to end without the health care provisions that many in his party saw as an obstacle to the deal.
“House Democrats are in this fight until we win this fight,” Jeffries said in an interview with “CBS Evening News” anchor John Dickerson. “This fight is not over for us. We are just getting started.”
Speaking hours before the House voted Wednesday night on a bill that would fund the government through the end of January, Jeffries told CBS News that “Democrats remain strongly opposed” to the bill, which passed the Senate with some Democratic support. The House voted 222-209 Wednesday night to pass the bill, with six Democrats breaking with their party to vote yes. The bill now heads to President Trump’s desk.
Democrats in the House and Senate had long pushed for Congress to extend the Biden-era enhanced health insurance tax credits in exchange for their votes to reopen the government. The credits are set to expire at the end of the year, which could lead to higher premiums for the millions of people who buy insurance on the Affordable Care Act exchanges.
But over the weekend, eight members of the Senate Democratic caucus signed a bill to reopen the government and approve three spending bills for a full year, in exchange for Republican Senate leadership’s promise to hold a vote on tax credits at some point. House Republican leaders have not committed to holding a vote in the lower chamber.
Asked by Dickerson what his constituents have told him about Senate Democrats voting for the deal, Jeffries said he hasn’t heard much, but his constituents want Democrats to “continue the fight and protect the health care of the American people.”
“Grocery costs are too high, utility and electricity bills are skyrocketing, and health care costs are way too high,” Jeffries said. “We need you to do something.”
The New York Democrat has introduced a separate bill that would extend health insurance tax credits for three years.
He said “we’re going to force Republicans to vote on this, if not today, then soon,” referring to his plan to try to force a vote using a procedural move called a discharge petition. Jeffries, however, will need several House Republicans to sign the petition.
“Republicans claim they want to expand the Affordable Care Act tax credits,” he said. “They will have the opportunity to do so, since their leaders refuse to do so.”
Jeffries’ interview will air Wednesday on “CBS Evening News.”
