Negotiations on big spending bill hit new snag

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer of New York smiles during a media availability after a policy luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 25, 2017. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah listens to a reporter's question before a policy luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 25, 2017. Shelley Moore Capito also was confident the Senate would approve the plan and noted that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky supports it. It also has the backing of Vice President Mike Pence.

House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters Wednesday that the spending bill that would avoid a government shutdown will not include payments critical to keep Obamacare's insurance markets viable.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer of New York smiles during a. Democrats have said they support increased border security as long as no money goes toward building a physical wall.

The federal government forms for applying for health coverage are seen at a rally held by supporters of the Affordable Care Act, widely referred to as "Obamacare", outside the Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health Center in Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. on October 4, 2013. "We've now made progress on both of these fronts".

The Obama administration filed an appeal, and the subsidies continue to be paid while GOP lawmakers and Trump officials agree on a settlement.

The massive spending measure, which would wrap together 11 unfinished spending bills into a single omnibus bill, represents the first real bipartisan legislation of Trump's presidency.

Earlier Wednesday, House Speaker Paul Ryan said the changes were helping the legislation gain support, but he stopped short of saying the plan has the votes the GOP would need to finally push the high-profile measure through the House.

The most pressing issue is the funding of subsidy payments to insurers known as cost-sharing reductions, or CSRs.

The developments came days ahead of the 100-day mark of Donald Trump's presidency, as the White House pushes for fast action to revive the stalled health care measure and make good on seven years of GOP promises to get rid of "Obamacare" and replace it with something better.

In the event that the House and Senate cannot clear a measure by the midnight Friday deadline, Congress could pass a weeklong stopgap measure that funds the government at current levels to give appropriators more time to finish negotiations.

The latest Republican health care proposal would exempt members of Congress and their staff if states opt out of providing basic services like maternity and newborn care, wellness visits and prescription drugs. Democrats won funding for medical research, Pell Grants and foreign aid. Republicans control both Congress and the White House, but they have so far failed to replace Obamacare as promised.

The aides spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private negotiations. He has negotiated a plan with a conservative leader, North Carolina GOP Rep. Mark Meadows, to let states get exemptions to insurance coverage requirements under President Barack Obama's health care law. Instead, Trump's wins on Capitol Hill have been limited to about a dozen measures repealing 11th hour regulations issued by Obama and the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch.

Coal-state lawmakers say Congress is close to a deal to extend health benefits for more than 22,000 retired miners and widows whose medical coverage is set to expire Sunday. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Sherrod Brown of OH, along with Republicans representing parts of Appalachia, such as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Aides said Pelosi and White House budget director Mick Mulvaney sparred over the payments in a Tuesday phone call. The spending bill is expected to include several White House priorities like increases in border security and defense spending, including an unspecified amount to fix fencing and new surveillance technology to patrol the almost 2,000-mile border, the aides said.