Democrats defend COVID-era Obamacare perks — and sidestep cost questions

Some Democratic senators appeared ready to expand COVID-era Obamacare tax credits that hold up the spending legislation needed to reopen the government, but they appeared less willing to grapple with what that would mean for the nation’s spending.

“I don’t agree with the framing of the deficit increase,” Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said when asked about the program’s effects on the nation’s profitability.

Others, such as Sen. Alex Padilla of California, declined to respond.

The country was plunged into lockdown at the beginning of the month after lawmakers failed to agree on a short-term spending extension that would fund the government until November 21. But the dispute wasn’t about the package itself. In 2021, Congress temporarily expanded eligibility for Obamacare’s enhanced premium tax credit subsidies aimed at helping Americans pay for health insurance plans amid the uncertainty of the pandemic. This caused eligibility to end at the end of 2025. Democrats have made continuation of the program a key condition for support of any spending package.

Republicans need at least seven Democrats in the Senate to advance spending legislation; here Republicans need to clear the 60-vote threshold to overcome fraud. The GOP has 53 seats in the legislature.

CONSERVATIVES AT THE CENTER OF THE ‘FUEL’ CLOSURE OF OBAMACARE BENEFITS TO FIGHT HEALTH CARE INFLATION

By the way The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan fiscal policy think tank, says continuing the credit expansion could cost more than $30 billion annually.

Republicans see the expiration as an opportunity to return government spending to pre-COVID levels and reduce the national deficit, while Democrats have expressed alarm about recipients who may face a sudden end to federal aid.

“There are millions of Americans who will no longer be able to afford health insurance or will be kicked off health insurance when the tax credits that made the Affordable Care Act affordable expire at the end of this year,” Coons said, referring to the 2010 health care reforms that signed Obamacare into law.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R.S.D.) speaks to the media alongside Vice President J.D. Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) ahead of the Sept. 30 government funding deadline. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Other Democrats pointed out that health care is the most important issue.

“Republicans need to restore health care to the American people. That’s my view,” said Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii.

Findings from health policy think tank KFF, to indicate More than 90% of the 24 million people enrolled in Obamacare benefit from improved credit.

DEMOCRATS BLAME GOP FOR OBAMACARE PROBLEMS DUE TO PANDEMIC-ERA SUBSCRIPTIONS

Democrats have voted against reopening the government 10 times since the shutdown began.

Lawmakers such as Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, pushed back on Democratic opposition, noting that the credits were always designed to be temporary and that Democrats were the ones who initially included the sunset provision.

“This is a crisis that was preordained by the Democrats,” Curtis said. “They’re the ones who put the expiration date on these.”

This is also the position of Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark.

“My concern is that [the credit expansion] It was made during the pandemic because of the pandemic. The epidemic is over. As a result, there are people making $300,000 from the subsidy.”

“So what we need to do is open up the government, not take the American people hostage and start talking, because there are going to be some people who are going to get hurt,” Boozman added.

MIDDLE DEM UNPOSES JEFFRIES ON OBAMACARE COMPROMISE AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN EXTENDS

Boozman isn’t the only Republican worried about both: rising government costs and Americans who will have to adjust their payments to get health care without subsidies.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who has warned against sudden shifts in health programs, said talks to advance either priority have made little progress.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, during a congressional picnic on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, June 2025. (Al Drago/Bloomberg)

“I’ve been trying to find a way to ensure Americans continue to have health insurance coverage, and we’re not making much progress this week,” Murkowski said.

Other Senators hinted that talks were somehow progressing but refused to disclose them.

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“I’m not getting engaged right now because I may or may not be involved in any negotiations about what the final solution to this is going to be. At this point, I’m not going to discuss specifics until Democrats open the government,” said Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho.

Both chambers of Congress left Washington, D.C. for the weekend. The Senate will return on Monday.