Overview
- For the sixth time, senators fell short of the 60 votes needed, rejecting a GOP stopgap 54–45 and a Democratic plan with a permanent ACA tax credit extension 47–52.
- The House remains in recess as Speaker Mike Johnson resists a stand-alone military pay bill, with the first missed active-duty payday approaching Oct. 15.
- Democratic leaders refuse a one-year extension of enhanced ACA tax credits, while a bipartisan bill (H.R. 5145) draws co-sponsors but is labeled a nonstarter by Hakeem Jeffries.
- Republican unity shows strain as Marjorie Taylor Greene, Josh Hawley and Thom Tillis signal openness to extending the credits, even as leaders insist talks wait until after reopening.
- OMB has withheld roughly $28–30 billion and floated limits on back pay while unions seek court intervention, as KFF projects steep premium increases if the enhanced credits lapse, with reported estimates ranging from more than 75% on average to about 114%.