Eight Democrats and independents joined Senate Republicans on Sunday to end the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history after a deal was struck to secure a future vote on extending Affordable Care Act tax credits. The continuing resolution passed on its 15th attempt with a 60-40 vote, surpassing the filibuster threshold and moving the bill back to the U.S. House for final approval.
Among the key swing votes was Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., who flipped her vote in response to Republican concessions regarding the ACA. She joined fellow Democrats Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Tim Kaine of Virginia, and Dick Durbin of Illinois. Also supporting the resolution were Democrats Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, and independent Sen. Angus King of Maine.
The deal includes a guaranteed Senate vote on extending enhanced ACA premium tax credits, which are set to expire December 31. Without an extension, supporters warn that insurance premiums for millions of Americans would skyrocket. The agreement also reverses Trump administration layoffs triggered during the shutdown and prevents further layoffs while the continuing resolution is in effect.
Sen. Rosen cited these concessions as critical to her support: “The concession we’ve been able to extract to get closer to extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits is a vote on a bill drafted and negotiated by Senate Democrats.”
Rosen sharply criticized President Trump and Senate Republicans, accusing them of using the shutdown to “inflict unimaginable pain and suffering on working people,” including withholding SNAP benefits and disrupting the tourism industry through air travel delays.
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, who voted for the resolution on all 15 attempts, echoed support for the ACA provisions while condemning the shutdown’s impact. “We must extend the ACA enhanced premium tax credits, but that can’t come at the expense of the millions of Americans impacted by a shutdown.”
With the resolution’s passage, Senate Democrats now seek to force a public vote that could put Republicans on record regarding their stance on Obamacare tax credits ahead of the upcoming election season.
