Topline
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Senate Democrats would vote to reopen the government if Republicans agreed to a one-year extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies—the first clear compromise offer from either side since the shutdown began.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speaks at a press conference following recent elections as the government shutdown continues in Washington, DC on November 5, 2025. (Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Key Facts
Schumer said, “it’s clear we need to try something different,” while speaking on the Senate floor Friday, proposing the extension of the Obamacare tax credits, and the formation of a bipartisan committee to negotiate a long-term solution on the subsidies.
Schumer ended by saying “the ball is in the Republicans’ court, we need Republicans to just say ‘yes.’”
Schumer’s new offer would include separate votes on the ACA subsidies and the Republican spending plan to reopen the government.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., suggested Schumer’s offer wouldn’t pass muster with Republicans, telling reporters “I just don’t think that it gets anywhere close to what we need to do here,” but noting “their last proposal was unserious and unrealistic . . . so I guess you could characterize that as progress.”
Republicans have previously said they will only negotiate with Democrats on health care after the government reopens.
Chief Critic
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., rebuked Schumer’s offer in a post on X immediately after his floor speech, calling it “another year of insane profits [for health insurance companies] at the expense of consumers and American taxpayers.”