By Emel Akan
Contributing Writer
WASHINGTON — The White House on Friday said that there were no intentions to discuss extending subsidies for health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act, a central issue in the shutdown stalemate between Republicans and Democrats.
The White House responded to media reports by stating that it has no plans to negotiate with Democrats until the government reopens.
“President Trump and the administration have been clear: we will not have policy discussions while Democrats hold countless Americans hostage and demand free health care for illegal aliens,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai wrote in an email.
“Democrats must reopen the government if they want to have meaningful policy debate.”
The response came after The Wall Street Journal reported that the White House, behind the scenes, was increasingly worried about the political vulnerabilities that a shutdown would create for Republicans in next year’s midterms. Hence, Trump’s aides were internally discussing proposals to extend the enhanced subsidies for Obamacare, the WSJ said, citing anonymous administration officials.
The shutdown entered its third day on Friday, and there was no resolution in sight to open the government.
The Republicans and the White House said they hope that more moderate Democrats will cross the aisle to reach the 60-vote threshold in the Senate to open the government.
Republicans have repeatedly said that they would only negotiate with Democrats on the matter after the government is reopened.
Meanwhile, business groups have been urging Congress to reopen the government by passing a clean funding plan.
“A fully functional government is essential for American businesses, workers, and consumers while policymakers continue working on a full-year funding package and other pressing issues,” the Business Roundtable said on Friday in a statement.
The federal government shut down at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 1 after both parties failed to reach a deal to pass a short-term funding plan.
Trump said the shutdown is an “unprecedented opportunity” for Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), to reduce government spending.
“I have a meeting today with Russ Vought, he of PROJECT 2025 Fame, to determine which of the many Democrat agencies, most of which are a political SCAM, he recommends to be cut, and whether or not those cuts will be temporary or permanent,” he wrote on Truth Social on Thursday.
“I can’t believe the Radical Left Democrats gave me this unprecedented opportunity.”
Jackson Richman contributed to this report.
