This December is playing out like many others on Capitol Hill. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)
But it’s only mid-December. And everyone knows that the Congressional Christmas legislative spirit can be slow to take hold. Some of that holiday magic may have officially arrived Thursday afternoon after the Senate incinerated competing Republican and Democratic healthcare plans.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., pushed a three-year extension of the current Obamacare subsidies – with no built-in reforms.
"This is going to require that Democrats come off a position they know is an untenable one and sit down in a serious way and work with Republicans," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., of the Democratic proposal.
Thune characterized the Democrats’ gambit as "a political messaging exercise."
MODERATE REPUBLICANS STAGE OBAMACARE REBELLION AS HEALTH COST FRUSTRATIONS ERUPT IN HOUSE
Republicans even mulled not putting forth a healthcare plan at all. It was the group of Senate Democrats who ultimately helped break a filibuster to re-open the government last month that demanded a healthcare-related vote (not a fix, but a vote) in December. So that’s all Thune would commit to.
"If Republicans just vote no on a Democrat proposal, we'll let the premiums go up and Republicans don't offer anything, what message is that going to send?" asked Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. "I know what people in Missouri will think. They'll look at that and they'll say, ‘Well, you guys don't do anything. You've just let my premiums go up.’"
It may yet come to that.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said abortion restrictions in exchange for a limited extension are "off the table." ( Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
So the competing plans needed 60 yeas to clear a procedural hurdle. But that also meant that both plans were destined to fail – without solving the problem before the end of the year.
"We have to have something viable to vote on before we get out of here," lamented Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.
That’s why some Christmas congressional calendar magic often compels lawmakers to find a last-minute solution.
"Every legislator up here would like to be home for Christmas," said Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan. "That pressure is what forces us to come together."
CONGRESS FACES HOLIDAY CRUNCH AS HEALTH CARE FIX COLLIDES WITH SHRINKING CALENDAR
We’ll know soon if everyone buckles down to harness soaring premiums after days of political posturing.
"This should have been done in July or August. So we are up against a deadline," said Hawley.
And procrastination by lawmakers may yet do them in.
"Healthcare is unbelievably complicated," said Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D. "You're not going to reform it and bring down costs overnight."
Rep. Kevin Kiley said no vote runs contrary to the will of the American people. (Scott Strazzante-Pool/Getty Images)
That political concern may be just enough to force the sides to find some Christmas magic and address the issue before the holidays.
That’s one Yuletide script in Congress.
But there’s a script to not fixing things, too.
If Congress leaves town, every communications director on Capitol Hill will author a press release accusing the other side of channeling Ebenezer Scrooge, declaring "Bah humbug!," or dumping a lump of coal in the stockings of voters on Christmas.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
That’s the script.
And every year, it sleighs me.
Chad Pergram currently serves as Chief Congressional Correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is based out of Washington, D.C.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/speakers-lobby-what-congress-december-script-means-healthcare-next-year