Shaheen Urges Bipartisan Approach to Extend ACA Tax Credits Amid shutdown Aftermath
WASHINGTON – Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) is calling for a swift, bipartisan effort to address expiring Affordable Care act (ACA) tax credits, emphasizing the need to move past recent political battles and focus on achievable solutions. The push comes after a deal brokered by Shaheen and seven other Senate Democrats ended a 40-day government shutdown, securing a commitment for a vote next month on extending the credits which help millions of Americans afford health insurance premiums.
Shaheen stressed the urgency of the situation, stating, “we need to put the shutdown behind us, end the circular firing squad,” and focus on areas of potential agreement. She suggested capping income eligibility for the tax credits and addressing fraud and abuse within the program as possible starting points for bipartisan negotiations.
“Let’s focus on what we can agree to,” shaheen said. “Let’s look at what we can get done in the timeframe we have, and recognize there is real urgency to get these premium tax credits extended.”
The new Hampshire Democrat has been in communication with Republican colleagues, including Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), throughout the shutdown to explore potential compromises. Cassidy has been discussing a White House plan to address healthcare costs by providing Americans with funds to offset high deductibles, a concept also supported by the President.
However,Shaheen expressed skepticism about the feasibility of implementing such meaningful reforms within the limited timeframe. “we can work together, we can extend the credits, but we probably can’t implement significant reforms that Sen. Cassidy was talking about in the time frame that we’ve got,” she stated. ”So we need to look both in the short term and in the long term for how we address the cost of health care.”
The expiring tax credits impact millions of Americans who purchase health insurance through state exchanges. democrats initially sought an extension of these credits as a condition for reopening the government, but ultimately agreed to a deal that guarantees a vote on the issue in the coming weeks.
