New Delhi, Oct. 17 -- Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he offered Democrats a chance to address their top priority - extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies - but the move was not enough to end the government shutdown.

"I've told them. I said, and I've said, 'We are willing to have the conversation.' I've said, 'If you need a vote, we can guarantee you get a vote by a date certain.' At some point Democrats have to take yes for an answer," Thune told MSNBC in an interview aired on Thursday.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pushed back against Thune's claims, saying Republicans have not formally proposed a vote.

"Look, we're not negotiating in public. Plain and simple. Leader Thune has not come to me with any proposal at ...