Moderate Republicans Join Democrats To Force Vote On Healthcare Subsidies
Four moderate House Republicans joined Democrats on Wednesday in a procedural effort to force a floor vote on a three-year extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits. The move was in direct defiance of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and GOP leadership.
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), one of the four, said House leadership left lawmakers with no choice. He says he spent weeks working on a bipartisan plan but Johnson wouldn’t put it up for a vote. He says, “the only thing worse than a three-year clean extension without reforms is doing nothing.”
Pennsylvania Republican Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mackenzie, and Rob Bresnahan also signed the Democratic petition.
“Doing an end-run around the majority party, the speaker or the regular process is not the best way to make law,” Johnson told CNBC Wednesday before all four signed.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) now has the 218 signatures required under what is called a ‘discharge petition,’ which forces a full vote on the House floor. The recent Epstein vote was done under the same maneuver.
Dead on arrival? The vote will likely not take place until January, after the tax credits expire. Plus, the Senate would have to pass the bill as well, and they voted last week against an identical measure to extend the tax credits for three years.
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Without an immediate extension (the subsidies run out Dec. 31), about 22 million Americans who use ACA subsidies will see their payments double on average — the biggest price hikes felt by middle-class Americans.
If costs doubled, 32% of enrollees say they’d likely switch to a cheaper plan, while 25% say they’d likely go uninsured, according to independent health policy research organization KFF.
The deadline to enroll for Jan. 1 coverage passed on Dec. 15, but Americans can still sign up until Jan. 15 to have coverage begin Feb. 1.
A three-year extension would add about $83 billion to the federal deficit, the Congressional Budget Office estimated.
The politics of it: Those four Republicans from swing districts crossed party lines after urging party leaders to allow a vote, hoping to show their constituents that they had tried to address the subsidies.
A NPR/PBS News/Marist poll from last month shows Democrats holding a 14-point generic ballot lead over Republicans when asked about next November’s midterm elections. With a slim 220-213 majority in the House, that could mean Democrats take back the Chamber.
Trump has urged Republicans to pass legislation that would put funds directly into Americans pockets to cover health care costs.
Politico reports the White House is split, with some aides warning the subsidies’ popularity could hurt Republicans, while others see ending them as a way to cut federal spending.
Bottom line: Expect a prolonged and bitter GOP health care battle early next year. It could help dictate the result in next year’s midterm elections.