As the Democratic base clamors for party leaders to fight back against the Trump administration and congressional Republicans, lawmakers see health care as the perfect pocketbook economic issue for a high-profile battle.
A shutdown is coming next week unless both sides move from their current stalemate.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has been more circumspect about his goals than his House counterpoint Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), but they largely want the GOP to make real concessions on health before getting Democratic votes on a short-term continuing resolution.
Schumer and Jeffries want a "bipartisan negotiation" on health care. That likely means an extension of ObamaCare's enhanced tax credits, as well as repealing some of the Medicaid provisions from Trump's tax and spending law.
GOP leaders appear open to the idea of some kind of a tax credit extension, likely with policy reforms attached, but they are adamant those conversations can wait until November or December.
In the short-term, there's no indication that Democrats are sweating the possibility of a shutdown.
If Republicans refuse to engage and the government shuts down, Democrats think Republicans will shoulder the blame. If there's a deal on the tax credits and the government doesn't shut down, Democrats will claim that as a win too.
Democrats have successfully run on health care before, and they believe a shutdown would only amplify their message as they seek to break the Republican triumvirate in Washington.
"They can work to appease the base right now and get a meaningful policy win for their constituents from the [Affordable Care Act tax credits], but still turn around and continue getting health care to be main topic of conversation … and try to get persuadable swing voters in the midterms," a Democratic lobbyist said.
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