Bipartisan negotiations are the 'obvious way out' of the shutdown, says Sen. Dick Durbin

"As the government shutdown stretches into its ninth day, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is urging House Republicans to return to Washington and negotiate, warning that millions of Americans could soon see their health care premiums double if Congress fails to act. "There certainly is [a way out], and it's an obvious way out," Durbin told Morning Edition. "Have both sides sit down at the table immediately and find ways to deal with the challenge that faces us. Millions of American families are going to see their health care costs double if Congress doesn't act immediately.""

"At the center of the standoff is a partisan dispute over whether, and how soon, Congress should extend subsidies for Affordable Care Act marketplaces. About 24 million Americans who don't have job-based or public insurance, such as Medicaid, rely on those marketplaces to buy coverage. Republicans, who control Congress, say Democrats are blocking their funding plan under pressure from their base. They argue that no deal on health care can happen until the government reopens. Democrats acknowledge they have limited leverage but say that if the Affordable Care Act's tax credits are not extended, health care costs will soar."

"October 27 is the date for Illinois when they'll announce the new hospitalization premiums. On average, we expect those premiums to double, particularly for people under the Affordable Care Act. House leadership has kept the House on recess instead of calling the chamber back in session, a move intended to limit dissent within the Republican caucus while negotiations over funding and ACA subsidies remain unresolved."

The government shutdown entered its ninth day as the Senate rejected competing funding bills in a 54-45 vote. The impasse centers on whether and when to extend subsidies for Affordable Care Act marketplaces, which about 24 million Americans use to buy coverage. Congressional Republicans say Democrats are blocking their funding plan and insist no health-care deal can proceed until the government reopens. Democrats say they have limited leverage but argue that failure to extend ACA tax credits would cause health-care costs to soar. Illinois will announce new hospitalization premiums on October 27, with averages expected to double for many marketplace enrollees. House leadership has kept the chamber in recess to limit dissent within the Republican caucus.

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