Military troops set to miss first paycheck since US shutdown started

WASHINGTON — The financial impacts of the government shutdown are set to escalate this week, even as Senate Republicans and Democrats show no signs of breaking the stalemate over health care policies at the heart of the fight.

Without a deal, military troops would miss their first paychecks since the shutdown started, but the administration, urged on by congressional Republicans, was working on a plan to pay troops on Oct. 15 despite the impasse.

Meanwhile, Americans who use Obamacare are starting to feel the consequences of expiring subsidies at the center of Democrats’ demands, as insurance companies begin to send notices of rising premiums.

The Trump administration said the government would pay the military this week using tariff and tax revenues. But without action by Congress, it’s unclear how the administration can do so.

Representative Jim Himes, a Democrat from Connecticut, highlighted the impact the shutdown will have on troops on CBS’ “Face the Nation” Sunday.

“None of them are wealthy. None of them are going to get paid on October 15,” Himes said. “To pay the military during a shutdown would require legislation. The speaker of the House has taken that off the table.”

Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to bring the House back to Washington, which prevents any votes from being scheduled to ensure military members are paid for the duration of the shutdown. He is insisting the stopgap spending bill passed by his chamber is the only path forward.

On Monday, Johnson backed the administration’s plan to make an end run around Congress and pay the military this week.

“We are so very grateful that President Trump, again, showing strong leadership, has stepped up to ensure that our troops are going to be paid on October 15, while we wait for Democrats to stop holding the country hostage,” Johnson told reporters at the Capitol.

The Louisiana Republican signaled he’d continue to keep House lawmakers home as the shutdown extends into its third work week. His plan, Johnson said, has the support of all but three House Republicans.

Separately, Republicans are under increased pressure to negotiate with Democrats on extending expiring tax credits that lower health-care premiums for more than 22 million people enrolled on Obamacare exchanges. Insurance companies are sending out notices to customers this month, reflecting large increases to premiums for next year.

With open enrollment starting Nov. 1, Democrats insist a deal to reopen the government must include an extension of the subsidies. Republican leaders have said they will negotiate with Democrats on the issue after the government reopens.

But notices of rising premiums have caused the smallest of cracks in GOP unity on the issue. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a conservative Georgia Republican, broke from the ranks, criticizing her party for lacking a plan to keep premiums from rising, saying her own offspring would be affected by tax credits’ sunset.

Democrats see Greene’s defection as a hopeful sign that more Republicans may be open to striking a deal to extend the subsidies as their constituents are hit with higher premiums.