Senate Majority Leader John Thune is attempting to resolve the ongoing government shutdown by offering Democrats a vote on their top priority: extending Affordable Care Act subsidies. In an interview with MSNBC’s Ali Vitali, Thune stated that he has assured Democrats of a guaranteed vote by a specific date, implying they must accept a ‘yes’ answer.
This approach forms part of a broader carrot-and-stick strategy by Senate Republicans to break the funding stalemate. While Thune insists he won’t negotiate on the substance of a deal to extend soon-to-expire Affordable Care Act subsidies while the government is closed, he has left the door open to giving Democrats votes on their priorities or commitments on the fiscal 2026 appropriations process once it is reopened.
An offer to vote on the ACA subsidies hasn’t been enough, yet, to secure the additional five Democrats needed to pass the GOP-led stopgap to fund the government through Nov. 21. A bipartisan group of rank-and-file senators have been discussing how to get out of the government shutdown, but they have not reached an agreement.
Part of those discussions have focused on an understanding for how the ACA discussions would work, including the potential for a standalone vote or setting a date for a deal on extending the subsidies to be reached. Some members of the group have floated a one-year extension of the subsidies, followed by a longer deal that would include reforms.
The stalemate highlights the deep political divide between the two parties, with Republicans seeking to pass a short-term funding measure without expanding the ACA, while Democrats continue to push for long-term subsidies. This impasse has led to widespread disruption across federal agencies and services, affecting everything from passport processing to national parks.
As the deadline for the government shutdown looms, Thune’s offer to provide a vote on the ACA subsidies represents a calculated attempt to sway enough Democratic support to pass a stopgap measure. However, without a clear path to reconciliation, the situation remains precarious, with the potential for further government shutdown or significant legislative compromise.