Vulnerable House Republicans are urging Johnson to address ObamaCare subsidies
A group of front-line House Republicans on Tuesday called on House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to address enhanced ObamaCare tax credits that expired once the government shutdown ended.
Led by Reps. Jeff Van Drew (R-VA) and Gene Keegans (R-VA), 13 lawmakers told Johnson that millions of their constituents would face a massive rise in health insurance premiums without benefits extended before they expire at the end of the year.
“Our conference and President Trump have been clear that we will not take health care away from families who depend on it. This is our opportunity to demonstrate that commitment through action,” the lawmakers wrote.
They rejected the Democratic request to tie the tax credit extension to the government shutdown and urged Johnson to “chart a conservative course that protects working families in our regions across the country” once the government reopens.
While moderate Republicans are pushing for changes to the tax breaks, many hard-line conservatives remain vocally opposed to any extension at all — a course that Republican pollsters and allies of President Trump say would be a mistake ahead of the midterm elections.
The moderates’ letter shows some growing concern in the GOP about the apparent lack of a general plan from leadership to expand support.
Most Americans who purchase health insurance through Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans qualify for subsidies to make premiums more affordable. Congress has made the benefits more generous during the pandemic, but unless Congress extends them again, they are set to return to the original, lower levels.
Consumers with 2026 ACA Marketplace plans are already seeing much higher premiums as state and federal “shopping windows” allow people to see the costs of their plans before open enrollment begins on November 1. Insurers anticipate that the enhanced subsidy will expire and price their coverage accordingly.
If that happens, premium payments for subsidized enrollees would double on average, according to the health policy research group KFF.
The government has been shut down for 21 days, with no end in sight. Democrats stress they will not vote for a clean finance bill to reopen the government without extending enhanced tax breaks and other changes related to spending and appropriations.
Kiggans is the lead sponsor of the bill extending support for one year. It has 28 bipartisan cosponsors, split evenly between the two parties.
But the House has been out of session for a month, and Johnson says he will not bring members back until Democrats vote to reopen the government.
