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House Democrats want to use the looming battle over government spending and raising the debt limit as leverage to shore up ObamaCare.

The minority party believes Republicans will need their votes on the critical fiscal issues, and they think they can secure concessions on healthcare.

We could make some kind of provisions part of our negotiations on spending in September, Rep. John YarmuthJohn YarmuthCBO survives two House amendments targeting funding Meadows: CBO should downsize, aggregate think tank reports House committee advances budget resolution MORE (D-Ky.), the ranking member of the Budget Committee, told The Hill as Congress was leaving town.

Im sure well discuss that, he said.

The government would shut down onOct. 1without a new spending measure. Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven Terner MnuchinSenate panel might not take up budget until October Koch-backed group releases ads thanking lawmakers who support tax reform Treasury sanctions eight Venezuelan officials MORE has set aSept. 29 deadline for raising the nations borrowing limit, a date that suggests the two measures could be tied together for simplicity.

Mnuchin also says it should be a clean hike, meaning the administration does not support linking spending cuts to the debt limit bill despite demands from Republicans.

This raises the likelihood of Democratic votes being needed to carry the legislation. In the Senate, Democratic votes will also be necessary to prevent or overcome a filibuster.

Rep. Peter WelchPeter WelchGroup pushes FDA to act on soy milk labeling petition Dems pivot to offering ObamaCare improvements Both sides of the aisle agree telemedicine is the future MORE (D-Vt.) said hes also open to the idea of tying ObamaCare fixes to the fiscal bills.

Well make any effort we can, he said.

Conservatives in the House are unlikely to back a clean debt limit hike and will want to cut government spending, not continue it.

They are also unlikely to agree to the kinds of ObamaCare fixes desired by Democrats.

Still, its possible Democrats could find help from a handful of Republicans.

Rep. Tom Reed (N.Y.), the Republican co-chairman of the bipartisan Problem SolversCaucus, is weighing several possible vehicles to move ObamaCare reforms when Congress returns, according to his office.Reed had voted in favor of repeal earlier in the year, but more recently backed a series of ACA reforms.

Rep. Reed feels strongly that at this point, all options must be considered in order to make responsible solutions a reality for the American people, Nora Retana, Reeds strategic director, said in an email.

The strategy puts moderate Republicans in the awkward position of seeking ways around their leadership to stabilize a law theyve long promised to repeal.

But it also poses some political drawbacks for the Democrats, who have relished watching GOP leaders flounder in their repeal effort and think the Republicans will bear the blame for any problems dogging ObamaCare while they control both Congress the White House. Indeed, Democratic leaders, eying big gains at the polls in 2018, have discouraged members from offering ACA fixes throughout most of the year.

That strategy is eroding, however, as rank-and-file Democrats who were facing mounting pressure at home to offer solutions have started doing just that. The Problem Solvers group, which features 23 Democrats and 20 Republicans, has launched acomprehensive plan, proposing a series of reforms designed largely to stabilize ObamaCares insurance markets.

Democratic leaders have stopped short of endorsing that package. But leaving Washington for the long August recess, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) vowed that Democrats will support at least one element of the plan the creation of a stability fund to help states reduce premium costs for those with pre-existing conditions if Republicans will come to the table.

House Democrats are prepared to support these vital measures and exchange ideas on how we go forward in other respects, Pelosi wrote in a July 28 letter to Speaker Paul RyanPaul RyanTrump sparks debate over war resolution for North Korea Senator: Brain tumor, late night may have influenced McCain's health vote Dems slam GOP lawmakers for not holding town halls MORE (R-Wis.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellMitch McConnellEXCLUSIVE: Trump allies rally around Sen. Flake's primary challenger GOP senators rally to McConnell's defense amid Trump attacks Flake voices support for McConnell amid Trump attacks MORE (R-Ky.).

Any GOP support for fixing ObamaCare is sure to bring a harsh backlash from conservative lawmakers, activists and President Trump, who continues to needle the Republicans for their failure to send him a repeal bill. Ryan, who had ushered a repeal bill through the House earlier in the year, also has shown no appetite for the approach.

We were sent to Washington to fulfill the pledges we made to our constituents, he said in a statement as Congress left for the recess.

Members of the far-right House Freedom Caucus are eying a plan to force a vote on full repeal when Congress returns to Washington.

Democrats say its too early to predict how the healthcare debate will evolve in September events that will likely influence how they use their leverage in the spending debate. Many are hoping that bipartisan talks in the Senate discussions supported by McConnell will force Ryans hand in the House.

Paul Ryans always been in search of a unicorn, Yarmuth said of the Speakers focus on repeal.

The Democrats had been largely successful in securing their priorities as part of the omnibus package earlier in the year. And absent some bipartisan breakthrough on ObamaCare, they're keeping open the option of seeking ACA provisions in a spending package next month.

I dont think thats a bad idea at all, said a Democratic leadership aide.

Ryans office did not respond to a request for commentFriday.

In a twist, Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), among the sharpest critics of ObamaCare, is weighing legislation to stabilize it. In talks with Rep.Tom MacArthur (R-N.J.), Meadows is eying aproposal to guarantee the payment of federal payments, known as cost-sharing reductions (CSRs), to insurance companies that reduce out-of-pocket costs for low-income patients payments Trump has repeatedly threatened to withhold. The package may alsoempower states to waive certain insurance rules required under ObamaCare a change championed by conservatives.

Members of the Problem Solvers Caucus, meanwhile, arent waiting for House leaders to make a move, and Reed is in talks with Senate lawmakers, who have been more open to the bipartisan approach.

While Rep. Reed continues to work closely with Ryan and other GOP leaders, he is also talking with several senators who are equally committed to getting health care done and welcome practical solutions to the impending crisis, Retana said.

Meetings are being scheduled now, promising that September will be a very busy month.

On that, at least, there is no disagreement.

Peter Sullivan contributed to this story.

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Democrats see ObamaCare leverage in spending fights - The Hill