Durbin: ‘It’s Conceivable’ Obamacare Changes Could Be Part Of Spending Deal

FILE - This Sept. 4, 2013 File photo shows Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the Senate assistant majority leader, arriving for a top-secret briefing for senators with Secretary of State John Kerry at the Capitol in Washingt... FILE - This Sept. 4, 2013 File photo shows Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the Senate assistant majority leader, arriving for a top-secret briefing for senators with Secretary of State John Kerry at the Capitol in Washington. Illinois' congressional delegation is grappling with whether to approve U.S. use of military might against Syria. Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin this week voted in a Senate committee in favor of a resolution authorizing military force but restricting it to 90 days and barring American ground troops from combat. That resolution is to reach the Senate floor next week. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite,File) MORE LESS
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Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) said Tuesday that it was “conceivable” that some changes to Obamacare could be included in whatever temporary government spending bill is ultimately passed by Congress.

“It’s conceivable some aspect of it would be, but the notion of delaying it or defunding it is not going to happen,” Durbin said on CNN.

Durbin suggested a repeal of the medical device tax — which the House has included in one version of its bill, but the Senate rejected — could be grounds for compromise. But he said that Congress would have to offset the $29 billion that the repeal would add to the federal deficit.

“We can work out something I believe on the medical device tax,” Durbin said. “That was one of the proposals from the Republicans as long as we replace the revenue so we don’t put a hole in the deficit and respond to this in a responsible fashion.  That’s one thing the Republicans want to talk about.  Let’s sit down and put that on the table.”

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