House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) signaled on Monday that GOP leadership will huddle to hammer out a plan on the expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsides as Democrats dig their heels in on Day 27 of the government shutdown.
“Republicans have been working on a fix for health care, we’ve been doing this for years,” Johnson said in a press conference Monday when asked about the coming “health care cliff.”
The Louisiana Republican said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) is working with the House committee chairs to compile a plan as Democrats demand health care negotiations.
Still, pressure has reached a fever pitch across the country as more polls show Americans blaming Trump and Republicans for failing to reopen the federal government.
Funding for food stamps has also moved to the center of the shutdown fight. More than 40 million low-income food stamp beneficiaries are expected to receive less help with grocery bills — or no help at all in November.
The Senate will convene at 3 p.m. EDT but is not slated to vote on any shutdown-related measures.
Across the Pacific, President Trump is in Japan as he treks across Asia for a series of high-stakes meetings. He paid a short visit to the nation’s emperor before retiring for the night.
En route from Malaysia, Trump predicted a “successful transaction” during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, while also telling reporters he’d “love” to remain in office for a third term and remained open to a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
He will meet with the new Japanese prime minister later Monday.
Follow along for the latest updates below.
