Republicans Rage At Speaker Johnson
Internal friction is growing among House Republicans after Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., dismissed the possibility of a floor vote on extending Affordable Care Act premium subsidies, frustrating centrist members and increasing political pressure heading into an election year.
Johnson said Tuesday that the House will not take up legislation this week to extend the Obamacare subsidies, which are scheduled to expire on December 31. The decision has sparked concern among Republicans from swing districts who warn that higher healthcare premiums could become a political liability.
During his weekly press briefing, Johnson acknowledged that moderate Republicans had urged leadership to allow a vote. However, he said the proposal did not have sufficient support within the GOP conference to move forward.
GOP Pushes Alternative Healthcare Plan
Instead, House Republicans are expected to vote Wednesday on a broader healthcare package backed by party leadership. Johnson has described the legislation as a “consensus” proposal focused on lowering healthcare costs through transparency, competition, and market-based reforms.
Notably, the bill does not include an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies.
The enhanced subsidies were first expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic under the American Rescue Plan in 2021 and later extended through 2025 by the Inflation Reduction Act. Democrats now argue that allowing the subsidies to expire will result in higher insurance premiums for millions of Americans.
Republicans counter that the subsidies artificially suppress prices while failing to address the long-term affordability and sustainability of the healthcare system.
Moderate Republicans Weigh Procedural Action
Several House Republicans, including Reps. Mike Lawler of New York, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Kevin Kiley of California, have not ruled out supporting a discharge petition filed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.
If successful, the petition would force a House vote on a clean three-year extension of the Obamacare subsidies. Even supporters acknowledge the measure would face steep odds in the Senate.
Lawler has publicly criticized House leadership’s refusal to allow a vote, calling the strategy politically damaging for Republicans in competitive districts.
Currently, three separate discharge petitions are circulating. One led by Fitzpatrick and another co-sponsored by Rep. Jenn Kiggans, R-Va., and Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., have already drawn multiple Republican signatures.
Jeffries’ petition is closest to triggering a vote and would require just four additional GOP lawmakers to succeed, giving moderates significant leverage.
Kiggans, however, is not expected to support Jeffries’ effort, according to a source familiar with her position.
Democrats Apply Pressure Ahead of Elections
Democratic leadership is said to believe that refusing to compromise on a three-year extension could pressure some Republicans to break ranks. Privately, some House Democrats concede the impasse is largely driven by political strategy, viewing the Gottheimer-backed petition as a contingency plan.
Several progressive Democrats have also indicated they would consider a shorter extension — but only with leadership approval.
Rep. Kevin Kiley criticized both parties, arguing that the deadlock reflects broader leadership failures in Congress and forces individual lawmakers to rely on procedural maneuvers just to get a vote.
Senate Efforts Fall Short
In the Senate, a Democrat-backed bill extending the Obamacare subsidies failed to advance last week, despite support from four Republicans. The measure did not reach the 60-vote threshold needed to overcome a filibuster.
As part of negotiations to end the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history, Democrats secured a commitment for a Senate vote on the issue. However, the agreement did not include any guarantee of action in the House.
Ultimately, the Senate proposal failed by a 51-48 vote. A separate Republican bill aimed at reducing healthcare premiums through alternative reforms also failed by the same margin, receiving no Democratic support.
Outlook
With the subsidy expiration date approaching, the debate over Affordable Care Act premiums is shaping up to be a major political issue heading into the next election cycle. The dispute highlights growing divisions within Congress over how best to address rising healthcare costs without expanding federal spending or government dependency.
