Let's talk about Republicans working on ACA tax credits and ignoring Trump....

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Belle of the Ranch 4 min 2 speakers 3 chapters transcribed

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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

Beau 0:01

Well, howdy there internet people, it's Belle again. So today we're going to talk about Republicans working on extending ACA tax credits. We've briefly talked a few times about some rumor mill or barely confirmed efforts from Republicans to extend the ACA tax credits. The exact same tax credits Trump just shut the government down over. It's one of those things that made the situation even more farcical.

What are Republicans proposing regarding ACA tax credits?

Beau 0:34

Republicans know the Affordable Care Act tax credits Democrats are demanding be extended have to be extended. But doing it is an admission that the one big broken bill was in fact a bill for the wealthy that didn't consider the working class. So there was no way they wanted to extend them because the Democratic Party asked for it. even though the overwhelming majority of people who use them are in states Trump won during the last election. Now, there is serious on-the-record confirmation from Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska. The talks have been going for weeks.

Unknown 1:16

Weeks, mind you. The whole time Trump was saying Democrats wanted healthcare for illegals, Republicans were working on their proposal for the Democratic Party's main demand. The whole time Trump was saying not to deal with Democrats, the talks were underway and the Senate was treating him like a lame duck.

Beau 1:40

We now know that in addition to Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Sullivan is a main participant. This isn't some unofficial group of Republicans. This is an effort by Republicans in the Senate to extend the exact tax credits they just shut the government down over. It seems like it's an offshoot of and being supported by the Senate Finance Committee. Senator Tom Tillis is not known to be part of the working group. In fact, he's kind of denied it. But he has indicated he would support the move. If these Republicans and the others who actually support extending the credits had voted their conscience and voted in the interest of their constituents, we probably wouldn't be in the middle of a government shutdown right now.

Beau 2:37

Tuberville has admitted being part of the group and has also admitted that the expiration of the credits would hurt Alabama. Now that he's on record with that statement, it's pretty safe to assume he'll vote to extend them when the time comes.

Why did Republicans previously shut down the government over ACA tax credits?

Beau 2:54

Because he's running for governor of Alabama. Interestingly, even though what's being discussed is the exact reason Trump ordered Republicans to shut down the government... Sullivan reportedly made it clear that this wasn't a negotiation about reopening the government. As we mentioned before, and was now confirmed by Sullivan, Republicans aren't okay with just extending the credits as is. They want caps on who can use them, and maybe minimum premiums and so on. Because even when they know they have to help the working class, they want to do it to the smallest degree possible. Even though these talks are officially unrelated to the government shutdown, if they produce results, it's entirely possible that it could create a situation that could lead to a breakthrough that allows Republicans to save face for their failure to keep the government functioning.

Beau 3:58

Anyway, it's just a thought. Y'all have a good day.

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