By Nolan D. McCaskill and Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON, Dec 4 (Reuters) – U.S. Senate Democrats will demand votes next week on a three-year extension of an enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidy that is set to expire this month for 24 million people, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York announced in a speech to the Senate on Thursday.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota agreed to give Democrats an up-or-down vote on healthcare legislation of their choosing as part of an agreement with eight Democrats who voted with Republicans last month to end a record 43-day government shutdown.

Democrats instigated the shutdown to pressure Republicans into extending the Obamacare subsidies, which expire at the end of this year. While there is some support for an extension, Republicans ha

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