Sen. Lindsey Graham pans negotiations on Obamacare subsidies as government shutdown drags on

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. said that he was in favor of the Senate voting to reopen the federal government but that he would not negotiate with Senate Democrats on their plan to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Sunday that he was in favor of the Senate voting to reopen the federal government but that he would not negotiate with Senate Democrats on their plan to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies while the government was still shuttered.

“I’m willing to vote to open the government up tomorrow,” Graham told NBC News’ “Meet the Press.” “To my Democratic friends: I am not going to vote to extend these subsidies.”

“Let’s have a rational discussion, but not with the government shut down. It’s up to you. If you want to keep it shut down, fine. It’s not going to change how I approach health care,” the South Carolina senator added.

Graham’s comments come on the 12th day of the government shutdown, as hundreds of thousands of federal workers remain furloughed and critical government services are operating with no staff or at lower-than-usual staffing numbers.

The shutdown continues as the Senate is at an impasse over whether to pass a temporary government funding measure.