REBECCA QUICK: If this is something that you want to satiate, if you want to accomplish, you’re going to need at least some Republicans to come, why not start with a one-year extension or potentially even a two-year extension?
HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Well, Leader Schumer offered a one-year extension in the context of trying to end Trump’s Republican shutdown.
QUICK: That’s different. I’m talking about what you have now. Let’s not go back to what was done in the past and what was not extended. If you want to get something that actually did, you have to do something that has a bipartisan effect.
JEFFRIES: You can ask me the question. I will provide the answer.
QUICK: Answer the question instead of going back.
JEFFRIES: I’m giving an answer to provide context. Republicans have repeatedly refused to take yes for an answer. It was a very reasonable multi-year extension that was offered. It was a straight one-year extension, along with a multi-year process through a bipartisan commission to more permanently resolve the Affordable Care Act issue. So having that context is absolutely important, regardless of what you might think.
QUICK: It’s important context that makes me realize that I don’t think you want to make a deal. I think this is something where you would like to see the rates go higher and allow the Republicans to hang on to that. Is that the answer? Is this politics?
JEFFRIES: That’s an absolutely ridiculous assertion, and really shame on you for saying that.
QUICK: It won’t be three years so what do you do?
JEFFRIES: It’s not a partisan issue for us. In fact, the states that are most affected because it is related to the expiration of the Affordable Care Act tax credit are all Republican states. We’re talking about West Virginia, Wyoming, Alaska, Mississippi, right? Tennessee.
QUICK: I agree. I’m not disputing that. That’s why you probably have some Republicans to sign on if you guys can come up with something that actually looks like a bipartisan deal.
JEFFRIES: Listen, this is not a partisan fight for us, it’s a patriotic fight. We are fighting for every constituent, even if the Republicans are not necessarily fighting for their own constituents. We must find a bipartisan way forward. And this is what we have repeatedly indicated that we want to do. Like, we need to sit down and have a reasonable discussion, find common ground to address this issue. Now, Republicans said in the House that they were ready to deal with the issue of the tax credit of the Affordable Care Act after the government funding agreement was reached. Well, now the government shutdown is over and there still haven’t been any conversations with House Republican leaders despite – Mike Johnson ever –
QUICK: Mike Johnson never said that. The leader never said that. You have Republicans though who would agree with you on anything if it was actually bipartisan in nature. That’s what I’m trying to get at.