As the government shutdown entered its second week, Democratic lawmakers insisted the tide is shifting toward a deal as some hard-line Republicans express support for extending health insurance subsidies, despite blanket opposition from Republican leadership to any agreement in advance of reopening the government. Ending the standoff appears unlikely in the short term — votes aimed at doing so Wednesday yielded similar results as before, with the GOP’s continuing resolution going down for a sixth time, 54-45. The same three Democratic caucus members — Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Angus King of Maine and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania — voted in favor. The Democrats' continuing resolution was also blocked. As for the parameters of a potential deal, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., once again ruled out a one-year extension of the subsidies. Democrats have called for a permanent extension of the premium tax credits, but asked by reporters if a two-year extension was possible, Jeffries didn’t rule it out. “It’s clear that Republicans now recognize that we have to do something about the health care crisis that they created in this country,” he said. “But now it’s up to them to sit down in good faith. Let’s have a discussion about how we end their shutdown and fix the health care system that they have broken.” One Republican was at the Capitol to offer a deal. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., ambushed Jeffries after a press conference, asking him to sign on to a one-year extension of the subsidies that he co-sponsors and a handful of Democrats are backing. “You wanted Republicans to be here, I’m here,” Lawler said as the argument grew heated. “You can pass an ACA [Affordable Care Act] extension right now, sign on to the bill.” Jeffries said that Lawler was "embarrassing himself” and said he is a "lackey for Donald Trump.” “It’s not a bill that Republicans are even prepared to bring to the floor,” Jeffries said. “Bro, do you understand math? … There are 220 Republicans in the House right now, you come with a bill to me with 11?” Main obstacle But Democrats also say that Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is a main obstacle, even as conservatives like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., support the idea of extending the expiring premium tax credits that reduce costs for people buying health insurance through the marketplace. “Johnson is the true roadblock,” Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters Wednesday. He said a core of GOP House members are firmly against renewing the expanded tax credits, making Johnson reluctant to set a vote. That's despite 50 to 80 GOP members in tight races that “very much want it," Schumer said. “The only way we solve this problem, ultimately, is that the four leaders and Trump agree,” Schumer said. The tax credits, which were expanded from the original form in the 2010 health law to cover a broader group of Americans, expire Dec. 31. Some estimates predict that premiums could more than double if the credits aren't renewed. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said that in informal discussions, Republican senators have said they want to "figure out" the biggest sticking points, but find themselves in a bind. “All of our movements are now going to be complicated, because of Mike Johnson,” Gallego said. “From hearing from them, it's like, even if we get something, Johnson's just gonna tank it … But I have zero understanding why, when Marjorie Taylor Greene is giving a perfectly good out for you to be able to run on saving the premiums” of 20 million Americans. Sen. Christopher S. Murphy, D-Conn., said President Donald Trump’s recent comments that he wanted a deal with Democrats, as well as the desire to extend the subsidies among some conservatives, shows the shifting tide. But the most he’s heard from Republicans is a promise to discuss the issues later. “As the public hears more about what our priorities are, they seem pretty sensible,” he said. “It seems pretty unreasonable that the other side is refusing to negotiate.” Fetterman, who has repeatedly voted in favor of the GOP continuing resolution, was spotted in Senate Majority Leader John Thune's office Wednesday morning, but he didn’t disclose what the two discussed. “We should get our government open because it’s fundamentally wrong,” he told reporters. He said lawmakers can “consider these extensions, but we can’t do that when we’re keeping our government hostage right now.” Thune, for his part, said the two have “fairly regular” communication, and the conversation was about the “big picture.” Thune said it was unlikely that the chamber would work through the weekend. "I don't know that that does any good," he told reporters, though he held out the possibility of a weekend session "if enough Democrats start to come to their senses and want to have conversations about how to get the government open." Other Republicans on Wednesday amplified the theory that the impasse hinges on an upcoming anti-Trump protest scheduled for Oct. 18, arguing that Democrats want to prolong the shutdown until after the rally. “A lot of us are thinking, maybe that's what they're waiting for to get the left wing demonstration out of the way first,” Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said. “There's all kinds of timing issues,” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said pointing to the rally. “I'm sure the liberal progressives don't want to capitulate between … now and then.” He said further delays could also necessitate funding the government beyond the GOP stopgap's Nov. 21 end date. Schumer said the rally was a red herring. “I don't know where he comes up with that. I've never heard that argument,” Schumer said when asked about comments from Rounds. “I haven't heard a single Democrat in the Senate or the House make the argument.” Aidan Quigley and David Lerman contributed to this report.
