Divisions among conservative Republicans may leave the GOP unable to block Democrats from including an Obamacare fix that labor unions have demanded in a deal to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling.
Labor groups want to delay a reinsurance fee they say would raisehealth care costs for their members.
Republicans are generally opposed to a carve-out for unions, who are among Obama’s staunchest supporters and helped push through Obamacare. But because many conservatives also see the reinsurance fee as a tax, Republicans are in a difficult position. Many suggest they’ll accept the concession to unions, but want other changes in the health care law.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Senate conservatives would find it difficult to swallow any budget deal this week that includes a specific tweak to Obamacare benefitting unions without also delaying the requirement on all individuals to purchase insurance or face a fine.
“That would be a real overreach on the part of Democrats,” Grassley told the Washington Examiner Monday afternoon.
Grassley was quick to say that he is not part of the small group of Senate Republicans consulting with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, in his negotiations with Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
But based on conversations he's had with like-minded conservative Republicans, Grassley predicted any deal that created another Obamacare carve-out without lifting the individual mandate could spark a revolt from the right.
He said that “a senator that has holds on every Obama administration official” could try to filibuster a bill allowing the concession to unions.
Grassley’s colleagues said they believed he was referring to either Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, or Mike Lee, R-Utah, who have led the charge to delay or defund Obamacare in a government funding bill.
