Some senators are concerned a continued emphasis on healthcare could hinder legislative progress on tax reform this year, reports Politico.
Senators are currently on a recess and will return to Washington, D.C., next month. When they return, the chamber's health committee plans to hold hearings regarding stabilizing and strengthening the ACA's individual insurance market. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has not made a decision on whether to keep up the cost-sharing reduction payments — which help insurers subsidize the cost of coverage for low-income Americans.
But key Senate tax writers are concerned about their own looming deadlines — they hope to overhaul the tax code before 2017 ends — particularly if healthcare reform remains at the forefront of the legislative agenda, according to the report.
"We're not going back to healthcare. We're in tax now. As far as I'm concerned, they shot their wad on healthcare and that's the way it is. I'm sick of it," Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, told Politico Wednesday.
Lawmakers face various goals and deadlines beginning next month. For instance, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said there is a Sept. 29 deadline to raise the debt limit to keep the government running, reports Politico, noting that other congressional initiatives next month include reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program as well as the Federal Aviation Administration.
Current and former congressional aides told Politico many decisions regarding next month's issues "will be made above the committee level" so Mr. Hatch's committee can focus on tax reform.