#health-care-costs

#health-care-costs

For the record, Chuck Schumer voted against the motion to proceed on a government-reopening measure that is likely to bring his eight-plus years as Senate democratic leader to an end, probably sooner rather than later. But that doesn't seem to matter. Democrats angry over the abrupt abandonment of a Senate filibuster that seemed to be working in the party's favor are blaming Schumer, either because they believe he quietly encouraged the eight Democrats who defected, or because he couldn't keep them in line.

For years, California's late Sen. Dianne Feinstein fought off calls by her fellow Democrats to get rid of the filibuster, a Senate rule used to great effect by Republicans to thwart Democrats' key legislation. A traditionalist who served in Congress in the days when the two parties often worked toward compromises, Feinstein knew that when Democrats were in the Senate minority, they would need that option, too.

Still, confusion reigned inside the Democratic caucus on what kind of package Thune (R-S.D.) would ultimately bring to the floor, making it difficult for Democrats to settle on a final strategy. They insisted they need to know whether Thune will bring a standalone defense bill to the floor - or if he'll pair it with other appropriations packages. "If we have to vote with no clarity about that, I would vote against proceeding to the House defense approps bill," Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), an appropriator, told Axios on Wednesday.

Health care costs for workers are already up, with the average costs of those benefits expected to grow by 5.8% this year, which is an increase from 4.5% last year.