Thune reveals to MSNBC he’s offered Democrats a vote on Obamacare subsidies

Senate Majority Leader John Thune revealed in a recent MSNBC interview that he is willing to offer Democrats a vote on extending Obamacare subsidies, but with one condition: reforms. According to Thune, the Senate can guarantee a date certain for such a vote and would "take 'yes' for an answer" if Democrats are unwilling to accept other terms.

The Senator's comments came as the government shutdown entered its third week, leaving thousands of workers without paychecks. Despite this, Democrats remain resolute in their refusal to back down on their demands, which include extending subsidies that help millions of Americans afford healthcare.

Thune acknowledged that his previous offer was "not enough" for Democrats, who have grown increasingly skeptical about the Republican plan. However, he maintained that there is a "path forward" and expressed his desire to see premiums decrease, particularly for those struggling to make ends meet.

The Senator's willingness to negotiate on Obamacare subsidies suggests a shift in tone from his previous comments, which had cast doubt on the possibility of extending these vital benefits. Thune did express concerns about rising healthcare costs, however, and emphasized the need for reforms.

In terms of specifics, Thune proposed changes to the current subsidy structure, including income caps that would qualify individuals for lower Obamacare premiums. However, he refused to commit to supporting a one-year extension of subsidies that would cost $35 billion annually - a proposal that is unlikely to appease Democrats, who estimate the program will cost between $350 billion and $488 billion over the next decade.

The Senator's comments offer a glimmer of hope for an end to the shutdown, but his willingness to negotiate on key terms suggests that more work needs to be done before a deal can be reached. As the deadline for Thanksgiving approaches, Thune expressed a desire for a swift resolution, saying "I hope it doesn't last through Thanksgiving."

I think Thune's proposal is an interesting development in this shutdown standoff. While it's good to see him willing to negotiate on Obamacare subsidies, I'm not entirely convinced that his proposed reforms would be enough to appease Democrats. The fact that he's pushing for income caps and a possible reduction in premium costs seems like a step in the right direction, but let's not forget that Democrats have been advocating for much more comprehensive changes.

What concerns me is that Thune's proposal doesn't seem to address the underlying issues driving up healthcare costs. I'd love to see him explore more innovative solutions, such as expanding Medicare or incentivizing healthcare providers to offer more affordable options. Until then, I think it's unlikely that we'll see a lasting resolution to this shutdown.

On a related note, I'm curious to see how the Democrats will respond to Thune's revised proposal. Will they continue to hold firm on their demands for a full-year extension of subsidies, or are they willing to compromise? Either way, I hope we can find a solution soon and avoid any further disruptions to essential services

I'm not sure I buy all this talk from Sen Thune . It sounds like he's trying to spin a new narrative after his previous stance on Obamacare was super skeptical . The thing is, extending subsidies and implementing reforms is one thing, but it's gotta be done in a way that works for both parties . I'm not convinced that Thune's proposal is gonna fly with Democrats, who have been holding firm on their demands for years . And let's be real, how can you really trust someone who's changing their tune like this? It's all about politics and compromise, but sometimes I think we're just sacrificing the needs of the people for the sake of a deal . Can't we just have some straight talk for once?

so senate majority leader john thune is basically saying we'll give you democrats what you want if you agree to some reforms ...like, he's willing to extend obamacare subsidies but only if you're okay with some changes. that's a pretty big concession, especially considering the gov shutdown has already gone on for 3 weeks and people are struggling ...i think this is a good sign though - it means thune is open to finding a middle ground. the thing is, democrats aren't going to give up without a fight, so we'll just have to wait and see how this plays out ...anyway, i'm curious to know what kind of reforms thune has in mind

I'm glad to see John Thune finally willing to budge on Obamacare subsidies . It's crazy that we're at this point where thousands of workers are without paychecks . I think it's awesome that he's open to reforms and willing to negotiate . His income caps idea is a good starting point, but I'm not sure if $35 billion annually is too steep for Democrats .

I love that he mentioned wanting to see premiums decrease, especially for those struggling to make ends meet . That's what we need more of - a system that helps people afford healthcare without breaking the bank . It's definitely not perfect, but I'm hopeful that we can find common ground on this one .

Let's keep our fingers crossed that Thune's willingness to negotiate brings us closer to an endgame . And omg, if it doesn't last through Thanksgiving, that would be a miracle !

I'm kinda surprised John Thune is willing to budge on this Obamacare thing. He's gotta know that Democrats ain't gonna back down easy . And honestly, I think the income cap idea isn't a bad start . It'd be a step in the right direction for people who are struggling to afford healthcare . But let's not forget, there's still a long way to go before we get something done . Thune needs to meet Democrats halfway if he wants to avoid another shutdown crisis . Can we please just get this stuff sorted out already?!

OMG u guys I heard from a legit source that Thune's offer isn't as bad as it sounds he's actually trying to find common ground here. Those income caps would help ppl who are really struggling to afford healthcare, which is lowkey awesome . But let's be real, Democrats aren't gonna go for the $35 billion one-time extension that's a huge chunk of change.

I think Thune is trying to say that if the Dems aren't willing to compromise, he'll just wait it out and let them deal with the fallout . But at the same time, he's not gonna get super excited about it either lol. The shutdown is getting pretty ugly, but I guess this could be a step in the right direction?

Anyway, one thing's for sure: both sides need to stop being so stubborn and find a way to compromise . We're all gonna suffer if they don't figure it out ASAP . Fingers crossed we get some kinda deal before Thanksgiving

omg u wont bliev wut th senate majrty ldr john thune jus said he's down 2 extend obamacare subsidies but w/ reforms lol like wat kinda reforms tho? & btw wut wuz he thinkin w/ dat one yr extension tho $35billion? anyways, i feel like thune is tryna be all reasonable and stuf, but u can tell democrats rnt havin it . anywayz, fingers crossed they figger out a deal b4 thanksgiving

I think Thune's condition is super reasonable... no way should Democrats just get what they want without making some concessions. I mean, have you seen the state of the economy lately? We need reforms to lower healthcare costs and make it more affordable for everyone. It's not about being "mean" or "heartless", it's about making smart decisions that benefit the country as a whole.

And let's be real, if Democrats are so opposed to reform, then why should we even bother trying? It's like they're holding us hostage over their own selfish interests. I'd rather have a deal with some reasonable terms than no deal at all.

I know some people think Thune is being "flexible" or "open-minded", but I think he's just being realistic. We can't keep throwing billions of dollars at the same problem and expecting it to magically solve itself. It's time for some tough love, you know?

man I feel like we're being super patient here ... Senate Majority Leader John Thune is willing to offer Democrats a vote on extending Obamacare subsidies but only if they agree to reforms . I get that the gov shutdown is affecting thousands of workers, but this seems like a step in the right direction? Maybe they can hammer out some changes and we'll see premiums decrease for those struggling to make ends meet . The fact that Thune's offer was "not enough" for Democrats gives me hope that we can find common ground . Still gotta be careful, though - $35 billion annually is a pretty big ask .

Ugh, this is getting so stressful I mean, I get why they gotta negotiate and all, but can we just fix this already? The shutdown is like, what, three weeks in now? Thousands of people are losing paychecks... it's messed up. I'm not even gonna get into the politics of it, I just wanna see something happen ASAP

I guess John Thune's willingness to talk is a good thing, though Maybe he's willing to listen to the Democrats' concerns and find some middle ground? We need those Obamacare subsidies, fam It's like, people can't afford healthcare as it is... I don't know how they'd survive without it

I'm still skeptical about Thune's proposals, though Income caps that qualify for lower premiums sounds good, but the $35 billion annual extension thing? No thanks Democrats are right to be mad about that one. I just hope they can find some compromise and get this shutdown over with

" Senate Majority Leader wants Obamacare subsidies, reforms, and $35B annual payment . Guess that's not enough for Dems "

I'm still not convinced that Sen Thune is willing to give in on this one . I mean, he's offering a vote on subsidies, but with conditions? That sounds like a total non-starter for Democrats. And let's be real, they're not just talking about extending these subsidies for the sake of doing so - they're fighting for people's lives here . I'd love to see some more concrete proposals from Sen Thune on how his proposed reforms would actually benefit Americans. Until then, I'm skeptical