A group of centrist House Democrats and Republicans on Monday unveiled a proposal that they believe could finally cut through the partisan impasse that has kept the government shut down for more than a month.
Why it matters: The rare bipartisan coordination is the latest signal that lawmakers in both parties — particularly moderates and those in battleground districts — are becoming fed up with the extended shutdown.
- A handful of Democrats have openly questioned their party's refusal to budge on Republicans' stopgap spending measure as a way to kick-start talks on renewing expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits.
- On the Republican side, some lawmakers are starting to chafe at the House's prolonged absence and GOP leadership's refusal to even negotiate the tax credits.
Driving the news: Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.) and Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) on Monday released a broad outline for a potential compromise extension of the ACA tax credits.
- The Enhanced Premium Tax Credits would be extended for two years, with a phased-out income cap for those making between $200,000 and $400,000 a year.
- The proposal also includes several reforms, including requiring ACA marketplaces to confirm that recipients haven't died, creating a new standard for cracking down on fraud and providing more transparency on the value of recipients' tax credits.
What they're saying: "Congress is gridlocked, and too many Americans have lost faith that we can work together," the lawmakers said in a statement.
- "But here's the truth: Democrats and Republicans can sit down, listen to one another, and find common ground, especially when it comes to lowering health care costs."
- The lawmakers pitched their proposal as a "fair, reasonable path forward" on the ACA tax credits, adding, "Compromise isn't rocket science, and it shouldn't be treated like a weakness."
What we're hearing: A House Democratic leadership aide did not dismiss the proposal, instead telling Axios that a set of ideas is never a bad idea for consideration.
- A House Republican familiar with GOP leadership discussions told Axios last week that new restrictions like income verification and income caps were being considered.
