Sen. Rand Paul floats bipartisan commission amid Affordable Care Act subsidies battle

(The Hill) — Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) called on President Trump to appoint a select group of bipartisan senators to a commission tasked with addressing the expiring health care subsidies — the issue at the core of the ongoing shutdown standoff.

In an interview on "Fox News Sunday," the libertarian senator suggested Democrats agree to reopen the government for a one-month period, during which the commission would formulate proposals to address the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits set to expire at the end of the year and raise health insurance premiums for millions of Americans.

"I suggest that President Trump come forward and name three Republicans and three Democrats in the Senate to an official commission to figure this out over a one-month period and come back with a solution," Paul said. "But in exchange for that, I think the Democrats need to open the government for a month, and then we need to pay the workers, pay our soldiers."

The federal government has been shut down since the beginning of October, and there have been no meaningful efforts to negotiate a solution. Senate Democrats have insisted that Congress first vote to extend the ACA subsidies before they agree to a GOP continuing resolution to extend funding and reopen the government.

Paul has been the lone Senate Republican in recent weeks to vote against the GOP funding proposal, citing his concern over increased deficit spending. He also voted against the president's massive tax and spending bill earlier this year for similar reasons.

The Kentucky Republican said he opposes extending the ACA subsidies but agrees "there's a problem" with health insurance costs. He argued the subsidies have contributed to the rising health care premiums and said lawmakers must find another solution.

"As we've expanded Obamacare subsidies, what's happened is premiums have continued to rise, and big insurance has gotten richer and richer and richer," he said.

Paul floated the possibility of legalizing collective bargaining for the consumer, rather than just by trade.

"Right now, it's illegal to go to Costco or Sam's Club and buy your insurance. You have to be in the same trade or carpenters or cattlemen or whatever. We should let anybody. Costco has 44 million members. If someone could negotiate for 44 million members of Costco, it would drive prices down," Paul said. "But the current Democrat subsidies give a person who makes $225,000, $1,200 a year. If you make $225,000 a year, you don't need the government subsidizing your insurance."

"So, I don't think the subsidies are working. I'm open to discussing it. I think if you put Sen. Kaine and I in a room, I think we could figure something out. And that's part of the solution," he added, referring to Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who joined the Kentucky Republican for a joint interview Sunday morning.