(The hill) – Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) called on President Trump to appoint a select group of bipartisan senators to a commission to address the issue expiring health subsidies – the core problem of the ongoing standstill crisis.
In an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” the Libertarian senator suggested that Democrats would agree to reopen the government for a month-long period during which the commission would formulate proposals to address the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) expanded tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year Increase health insurance premiums for millions of Americans.
“I suggest that President Trump step forward and appoint three Republicans and three Democrats in the Senate to an official commission to figure this out over a period of a month and come up with a solution,” Paul said. “But in return, I think the Democrats need to open the government for a month, and then we need to pay the workers, pay our soldiers.”
The federal government has been closed since early October and there have been no significant efforts to negotiate a solution. Senate Democrats have insisted that Congress must first vote on extending ACA subsidies before agreeing to a rolling Republican resolution to extend funding and reopen the government.
Paul was the only Republican in the Senate In recent weeks, he voted against the GOP funding proposal, citing concerns about increased deficit spending. Him too voted against for similar reasons, the president’s massive tax and spending bill earlier this year.
The Kentucky Republican said he opposes expanding ACA subsidies but agrees “there is a problem” with health insurance costs. He argued the subsidies have contributed to rising health care premiums and said lawmakers need to find another solution.
“As we’ve expanded Obamacare subsidies, premiums have continued to rise and the big insurers have gotten richer,” he said.
Paul suggested the possibility of legalizing collective bargaining for consumers and not just for trade.
“Right now it’s illegal to go to Costco or Sam’s Club and get insurance. You have to be in the same trade or carpenter or rancher or whatever. We should let everyone. Costco has 44 million members. If someone could negotiate for 44 million Costco members, that would bring the prices down,” Paul said. “But the Democrats’ current subsidies give a person making $225,000 $1,200 a year. If you make $225,000 a year, you don’t need government subsidies for your insurance.”
“So I don’t think the subsidies are working. I’m open to discussion. I think if you put Sen. Kaine and I in a room, I think we could figure something out. And that’s part of the solution,” he added, referring to Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who sat down for a joint interview with the Kentucky Republican on Sunday morning.
