The top Senate Democrat said “we’ll be at the table” if the president wants to negotiate.
By Jordain Carney
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday there are no pending bipartisan talks over expiring health insurance subsidies despite a claim from President Donald Trump.
The president said in Oval Office comments to reporters Monday that
“we have a negotiation going on right now with the Democrats that could lead to very good things ... with regard to health care.” He later reiterated “we are speaking with the Democrats” on health care but did not specify with whom.
But Schumer said in a statement that “Trump’s claim isn’t true — but if he’s finally ready to work with Democrats, we’ll be at the table.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries separately told reporters that the White House had “gone radio silent” since an Oval Office meeting a week ago. “Neither Leader Schumer or myself have heard a word from the administration about resolving this issue,” he said.
Democrats have made extending the expiring subsidies — available for insurance plans offered on Affordable Care Act exchanges — a central demand in the ongoing government shutdown fight. They have pushed Republicans to negotiate but GOP leaders on Capitol Hill have said they must first reopen government agencies.