Senate approves shutdown deal as Democrats balk at lack of healthcare relief

WASHINGTON — The Senate gave final approval Monday night to a deal that could end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, sending it to the House, where Democrats are making a last-ditch effort to block the measure because it does not address health care spending.

Senators approved the shutdown agreement by a vote of 60 to 40, the day after Senate Republicans reach agreement with eight senators caucus with Democrats. The movement in the Senate prompted Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) earlier Monday to urge House members to start returning to Washington, expecting the chamber to be ready to vote on the bill later this week.

spending planwhich does not include an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year, disappointed many Democrats who have been pressuring Republicans for seven weeks to extend the tax cuts. It will, however, fund the government through January, reinstate federal workers furloughed during the shutdown, and ensure furloughed federal workers are paid.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) also promised senators voting in December it would put lawmakers on notice about health care subsidies. Thune said in a speech Monday that he was “grateful that the end is in sight” for the compromise.

“Let's do this, let's get this to the House of Representatives so we can open this government,” he said.

Senate Democrats who switched sides argue that the December vote on the subsidies is the best deal they can get as the minority party and that forcing vulnerable House Republicans to vote on the issue will help them win ahead of next year's midterm elections.

As the Senate prepared to vote on the agreement Monday, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the chamber's Democratic leader, continued to reiterate his opposition to what he called the “Republican bill.” Sumer, who faced backlash from Democrats for the loss of members of his caucus, said the bill “failed to do anything significant to solve the health care crisis in America.”

Thune's promise to allow a Senate vote does not guarantee a favorable outcome for Democrats, who will need to secure Republican votes to pass the House. And the ability to cover health care costs will be made even more difficult by Johnson, who has not committed to holding a vote in his chamber in the future.

“I don’t promise anything to anyone,” he said. “I'll let the process take its course.”

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 demand from elected officials and that there is still a fight to be fought in the chamber — even if it's unlikely.

“What we're going to continue to do as House Democrats is work with our allies across America, fight the fight and stay in the Coliseum,” Jeffries said at a news conference.

Some Republicans agreed with Democrats during the shutdown that health care costs need to be addressed, but it is unlikely that House Democrats will be able to muster enough bipartisan support to block the deal in the House.

Still, Jeffries said “screamers” in the GOP who want to do something about health care spending have an opportunity to act now that the House is expected to resume session.

“They can't hide anymore. They can't hide anymore,” Jeffries said. “They won’t be able to hide this week when they get back from vacation.”

Democrats believed that fighting to extend health care tax breaks, even at the expense of a government shutdown, would underscore their position on affordability, a policy platform that helped their party win elections across the country last week.

If the tax breaks expire at the end of the year, millions of Americans are expected to see their monthly insurance premiums double.

In California, premiums for federally subsidized plans available through Covered California will be next year will grow by an average of 97%.

California U.S. Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla were among the Democrats who voted against the deal to reopen the government because it did not address health care spending.

“We owe our constituents more than that. We owe it to them to pass a resolution that will allow them to afford health care,” Schiff said. in Sunday night video.

Some Republicans also warn that their party will face a backlash in next year's midterm elections if it does not develop a more comprehensive health care plan.

“We have always been open to finding solutions to reduce the oppressive health care costs of the Affordable Care Act,” Johnson said Monday.

Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, for example, supported an emergency vote to reopen the government, but insisted on a vote to remove language from the spending agreement that he said would “unfairly target Kentucky's hemp industry.” His amendment did receive a vote and was ultimately defeated by a vote of 76 to 24 on Monday night.

With the bill headed to the House, Republicans are looking to get the votes to pass it, Johnson said.

Any legislation must be approved by the Senate and House of Representatives and signed by the president.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, President Trump said he would support a legislative agreement to reopen the government.

“We're going to open up our country,” Trump said. “It’s a pity that it was closed, but we will open our country very quickly.”

Trump added that he would comply with a provision that would require his administration to reinstate federal workers laid off during the shutdown.

“The deal is very good,” he said.

Johnson said he spoke with the president Sunday night and described Trump as “very concerned” about reopening the government.

“It was after 40 days of wandering in the wilderness and the American people suffering needlessly that some Democrats in the Senate finally stepped forward to end the pain,” Johnson said. “Our long national nightmare is finally coming to an end, and for that we are grateful.”