Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters he can’t give Democrats any assurances that an extension of Obamacare subsidies will pass after the shutdown has ended — something he has stressed previously as Democrats have demanded action on the health care premium tax credits.
Thune said he spoke to Sens. Angus King, I-Maine, and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and told them he can only assure them that they will get a vote in the Senate.
“I made this very clear to them, I can’t guarantee them an outcome,” Thune said, “I can guarantee them a process, and they can litigate the issue, get the vote on the floor. And you know, I presumably they have some way of getting a vote in the House at some point, but I can’t speak for the House.”
Senate Democrats are holding their weekly policy lunch this afternoon, where they are expected to discuss any potential compromise to unlock the funding impasse.
“Hopefully they’ll come out of there with 10 or more that are willing to vote to open the government,” Thune said.
Asked if the Senate would stay in session this weekend or during what is supposed to be a weeklong Veterans Day recess next week, Thune said, “If there’s a path forward to vote, whether that’s today, tomorrow, Saturday, we’ll stay and do that.”