Democrats seeking to make health care the defining issue for the crucial midterms next year were feeling validated by Tuesday night’s elections, which saw big gains across the board for candidates focused on affordability.
“I think that one of the reasons of many that the Democrats had so much success is an appreciation the Democrats are trying to protect health care for the American people,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Wednesday.
The results dimmed the prospects for a speedy “off-ramp” to end the ongoing shutdown, which had gained some momentum this week, at least among centrists, who are discussing a deal to reopen the government in exchange for a vote on extending the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced subsidies.
Liberals warn that such a vote, without a tangible political or policy win, could undermine the party’s message on affordability and health care, which they argue was integral to Tuesday’s wins and will bolster the party in next year’s midterm elections.
“It would be very odd, right after the country rewarded Democrats for taking a stand and fighting, for us to immediately stop fighting,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said.
“We are in this fight because we want Americans to have access to health care that they can afford. Republicans are willing to shut down the government rather than offer a little help to get that done,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said. “Democrats across the country last night, who ran on affordability, won because that is the heart of what Democrats are fighting for right now.”
Democrats have successfully run on health care before, and they entered the shutdown thinking it would only amplify their message as they seek to break the Republican triumvirate in Washington.
On Wednesday, Democrats said the election results were a referendum on Republicans and should drive them to the negotiating table.
“I think we are at a point now where affordability is the message out of this election,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said. “People are concerned about affordability of rent, groceries, all the necessities, and what could be more necessary than health care? Republicans were worried about it before. Now they ought to be really, deeply anxious about their political — not to mention their moral and legal — position on this issue.”
Brad Woodhouse, a longtime Democratic strategist and president of the advocacy group Protect Our Care, said Democrats shouldn’t compromise in their demand for the enhanced tax credits to be extended permanently.
“It’s Republicans that got a wake-up call. So they should agree to extend the tax credits in the same way that they extended the tax cuts from 2017 for the wealthy earlier this year during reconciliation,” Woodhouse said, referring to the party-line megabill the GOP passed earlier this year.
“We just had an election where people said that they’re concerned about affordability. So, the solution to the health care affordability crisis is going to be to take health care away from some millions of people and also bail Republicans out politically? That’s just not a good deal,” Woodhouse said.
Democrats were eager to use health care as the perfect pocketbook economic issue for a high-profile battle with Republicans.
But as the stalemate has dragged on, some Democrats have been looking for a way out.
Senators are engaging in behind-the-scenes talks to reopen the government. They see the impact on the furloughed federal workforce, and on the millions of Americans going without food assistance.
There is no official agreement, internal or otherwise, and Republicans and Democrats Wednesday sounded no closer to a path forward.
A Democratic strategist said the election changed the calculus for Democrats, who are now more willing to continue the pressure on Republicans.
“There seems to be a growing consensus that a vote on the ACA [Affordable Care Act] without a prenegotiated deal serves as an opportunity for vulnerable Republicans to get cover on the ACA, while Dems would likely not get the policy win they want,” the strategist said.
“So at this point, I’d say Democrats want to just let the pressure on ACA grow a bit more and let the consequences of the election sink in before locking in any sort of decision.”
Nov. 1 was an inflection point that many hoped would drive lawmakers to the negotiating table; ObamaCare’s open enrollment period kicked off, meaning the tens of millions of Americans who use the healthcare.gov marketplace saw major hikes in their health premiums due to the anticipated loss of enhanced subsidies.
The health research nonprofit KFF said the amount people pay for coverage will rise by 114 percent on average.
In addition, millions of low-income Americans are likely to see massive cuts and extensive delays in their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits because of the White House’s refusal to fully fund the program during the shutdown.
“Last night was a good night, but it was one night for the year,” said Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), who has been involved in talks to reopen the government. “We also recognize that the president is holding kids hostage with their getting access to food. You know, that’s a real issue that we have to deal with.”
The White House has said President Trump is willing to have a conversation about health care and the enhanced subsidies, but not until after the government reopens.
Many congressional Republicans admit they don’t want an extension because they say the tax credits mask the underlying failure of ObamaCare.
Darbin Wofford, deputy director of health care for the centrist Democratic group Third Way, said even if there’s an agreement that reopens the government without a subsidy extension, Republicans already own the consequences.
“I think if Republicans hold a vote on ACA extensions, and if it doesn’t become law … I think Republicans are going to have to own that heading into the midterms,” Wofford said.
“Democrats, up to this point and up to whenever the shutdown is ended, they have done everything they could being in the minority to show that they’re fighting for lower health care costs. And ultimately, it’s Republicans’ fault that those premiums go up,” Wofford added.
