House Democrats have landed on their plan of attack to try to salvage what they see as an inadequate deal to end the government shutdown: A discharge petition on extending their coveted Affordable Care Act tax credits.
Why it matters: The tactic is a long-shot — it will require Republican support that may not materialize — but Democrats see it as their last hope to force a House vote on the issue.
- A discharge petition forces a vote on any piece of legislation if it is signed by 218 House members, effectively giving the minority party the power to bypass the majority on bipartisan bills.
- Democrats have 214 members in the House, meaning four House Republicans would have to sign on even if they get all their members to do so.
Driving the news: House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) announced the strategy during a closed-door Democratic caucus meeting Wednesday afternoon, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
- The leaders said the underlying legislation Democrats are pushing would renew the expiring subsidies for three years, the sources said.
- That goes beyond the one- and two-year extensions proposed by various bipartisan groups of House members.
Reality check: Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), one of House Republicans' most centrist members and an architect of the two-year extension proposal, told Axios the discharge petition is "DOA."
- Bacon said Democrats "need to find a compromise" with Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee if they want to extend the ACA tax credits.
Between the lines: Democrats see the vote as necessary given that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has refused to commit to a vote on extending the ACA tax credits even if a bill to do so passes the Senate.
- A group of eight centrist Democrats broke with their party this week and voted with Republicans to reopen the government on the promise of a Senate vote next month on the issue.
- But that vote would be set at a 60-vote threshold, making passage an uphill battle.
