Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer on Friday offered a new plan to Republicans that would allow the U.S. government to reopen from a shutdown that began Oct. 1.
Schumer’s proposal calls for Democrats to agree to pass a so-called clean resolution that would provide short-term funding for government operations.
In exchange, the New York lawmaker said, Republicans would agree to a one-year extension of existing enhanced tax credits that are used to reduce the cost of health insurance purchased on Affordable Care Act marketplaces.
The other leg of the deal calls for the establishment of a bipartisan committee to continue negotiations on long-term reforms to address the issue of health-care affordability.
“Democrats have said we must address the health care crisis, but Republicans have repeatedly said they won’t negotiate to lower the health care costs until the government reopens,” Schumer said on the Senate floor on Friday afternoon.
