House Speaker Mike Johnson, right, is criticizing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, left, for refusing to agree to a GOP-led plan to avert a government shutdown. (Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
It was aimed at giving congressional negotiators more time to strike a longer-term deal on FY 2026 spending.
But Democrats, infuriated by being sidelined in the talks, are threatening to reject any deal that does not include an extension of COVID-19 pandemic-era Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of December.
Democrats reason that millions of Americans are expected to see their healthcare premiums skyrocket even before the subsidies themselves expire at the end of this year, and with no plan in place.
Republican leaders have signaled openness to having those discussions at a later date — albeit not without reforming the system — but are holding firm to their demand that the CR be passed without any partisan policy riders attached.
Johnson told reporters earlier on Friday that he would give House members 48 hours' notice before they had to return for any votes, something he's stated both publicly and privately for weeks.
HOUSE PASSES TRUMP-BACKED PLAN TO AVERT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
The government is in a shutdown after Congress failed to reach an agreement on federal funding. (Getty Images)
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"Congress has been absent here in the House for almost a month when there are critical conversations that need to be happening about reopening the government, lowering the cost of healthcare for millions of Americans, and also moving forward on critical issues," Olszewski said.
In a sign of a likely lengthy shutdown, the Senate is preparing to hold a standalone vote next week on paying government workers who are forced to work during the shutdown, including active-duty military members.
Asked by reporters if the House would come back to vote on the measure if it passed the Senate, Johnson said Friday, "If we have a viable path, yes, but I suspect the Democrats are going to bat it down again."
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/johnson-shutters-house-again-bid-keep-shutdown-heat-schumer