WASHINGTON — Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) is pitching Democrats on his compromise to make Affordable Care Act marketplace plans affordable without extending the extra tax credits that currently lower premium payments.

Cassidy, the chair of the Senate health committee, is among the team of Republican senators picked to negotiate with Democrats on the credits in preparation for a mid-December vote. Republicans agreed to the vote in exchange for Democrats’ support to reopen the government. 

Cassidy’s plan is not the official Republican plan, but he said his proposal is in line with the thinking of his GOP colleagues. Its structure jibes with President Trump’s demand to end the extra federal subsidies for ACA insurance and instead give an equal amount of cash directly to people to spend on health care.