ACA And Agriculture, The Conversation Continues In D.C.

Farmers find themselves in the middle of another political fight in the nation’s capital, this one over extending the pandemic hike in Affordable Care Act, better known as  Obamacare, subsidies.  The fight over extending just the pandemic increases in ACA subsidies to insurers recently took on a rural flavor as the 2026 mid-term races near.

“27% of farmers are on these plans," noted top Ag Democrat, Minnesota’s Amy Klobuchar.  "So, that’s why you start seeing these cracks, and people in the House and in the Senate, some Republicans saying, ‘Why don’t we just extend these?’”

But Senate Republicans refused that Democrat demand at the heart of the 43-day shutdown fight, promising Democrats only a vote next week on the plan of their choice as insurers lock in new rates.  Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer insists on a straight extension of the subsidies.  But retiring number two Senate Democrat, Illinois’ Dick Durbin, struck a different note on GOP-proposed ACA reforms.

“This Democrat, I’m sure others, as well, on my side of the aisle, will sit down with Senator Thune to try to address the problems that he has raised this morning," Durbin said.  "They’re legitimate concerns. We may see them a little differently, but let’s discuss it. Let’s do something we hardly ever do in the United States Senate anymore. Let’s legislate.”

But with divisions in both parties and midterm campaigns taking root, a deal seems hard to foresee with so few days left before new premium rates take effect.

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