Senate Republicans are pessimistic about the chances for a bipartisan deal to extend enhanced health insurance premium subsidies before the Christmas deadline, The Hill reported on Tuesday.
A major reason for the pessimism is that although there is a solid group of GOP lawmakers in both the Senate and House who don't want to see the enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expire at the end of the month, many more say Obamacare is hopelessly broken and are dead-set against an extension of beefed-up subsidies.
Such a fracture within the GOP makes it very difficult to move legislation, according to The Hill.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has acknowledged the lack of progress, with the South Dakota Republican saying that "my assumption is that by next week when we have to have that vote, that we might not be far enough along on the bipartisan discussions."
He added that the "conversations are still active on a solution," but warned "there are some significant sticking points" — emphasizing an escalating fight over adding language to any bill extending the subsidies to ensure federal money is not spent on abortion care.
"Dealing with Hyde is a big issue, obviously, for both sides," Thune said, referring to language that prohibits taxpayers' money from being spent on abortions and is named after former Illinois GOP Rep. Henry Hyde.
Democrats argue that under current law, the subsidies do not fund abortions. But Republicans demand stricter safeguards and want the Hyde Amendment applied more directly to the health insurance marketplace.
Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., has cast doubt on obtaining a bipartisan deal before Christmas, asserting Democrats haven't yet agreed on a proposal to extend the subsidies.
Brian Freeman ✉
Brian Freeman, a Newsmax writer based in Israel, has more than three decades writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online and television.
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