US Sen. John Tune (R-SD) will speak to media members along with Republicans at a press conference after the Republican weekly policy lunch in Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., on September 3, 2025.
Nathan Howard | Reuters
Republican leaders say they are willing to discuss the issue, not until the closure is avoided, as Congressional Democrats push for linking affordable care law insurance subsidies to the government’s funding fight.
“Obamacare subsidies are a policy debate that must be decided by the end of the year… not now, but while trying to keep government open.”
His comments were reflected by Senate majority leader John Toon (Rs.D.).
“We acknowledge that it has to be. We hope that some steps will be taken that can address the concerns Democrats have,” he said in NBC News “Meet the Press.” “But you can’t do this by Tuesday.”
Their comments threw cold water at the main Democrats’ sticking point a few days before the government was poised to shut down.
If the ACA tax credit expires at the end of the year, premiums could soar for millions of Americans.
With budget funding deadlines approaching, President Donald Trump on Monday said on Monday that Johnson, Tune, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y., Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y.
The scheduled meeting said it could be “productive” after Trump suddenly cancelled a meeting with Democratic leaders last week.
It remains unclear whether the 11th hour meeting will result in a deal that avoids a shutdown in the middle of the night Tuesday.
“(Trump) wants to talk to Chuck Schumer and Hakem Jeffries, and he tries to convince them to follow common sense and do the right thing by the American people,” Johnson said on Sunday.
Schumer said the outlook for the government’s closure “is dependent on Republicans.”
“We need a meeting. This is the first step, but it’s just the first step. We need serious negotiations,” Schumer said on NBC News “Meet the Press.”
Democrats have repeatedly argued that government funding proposals include an extension of the Obamacare tax credit.
They were firm on their demands on Sunday.
“We actually need to enact laws to ensure that the Affordable Care Act tax credit is extended,” Jeffries said.
But Republicans argue that there are still times to hinder subsidies transactions.
“That won’t happen until the end of the year,” Thune said in an interview with NBC News, “Meet the Press.”
“We can have that conversation, but before we do, let the hostages go, let the American people go, and keep the government open.”
Senate Republicans will need to vote with eight Democrats to vote with them, Thune said, and it appears to be difficult at this point.
