Republicans are on the defensive as Democrats have successfully made the shutdown fight about health care.

Most Republicans said they don't want to see insurance premiums spike, but neither are they willing to openly support the extension of the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits Democrats are asking for.

While the GOP has remained united in refusing to even entertain the idea of an extension in the context of ending the shutdown, Republicans don't appear to have an alternate plan for what happens next.

“We're open to a lot of different things. And the president wants to make health care work for everybody too. Once we reopen, then we'll be open to have good conversations, productive conversations,” Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) said.

Asked if those conversations will be about extending the tax credits, Mullin demurred.

“I mean, there's a lot of options there. I'm not saying that's not a possibility, just not one we’ve really discussed,” he said.

Democrats are feeling increasingly emboldened about their position and have made it clear they do not intend to back off their health care funding demands. If Congress doesn’t act in the next three weeks, Americans across the country will see major increases in their insurance premiums when open enrollment begins in November.

While Republicans insist that Democrats vote to fund the government before any talks on health care begin, GOP leaders have been forced to engage on an issue that’s long been a political vulnerability for the party.

“They’re trying to make this about health care. It’s not. It’s about........

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