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Republicans in the House of Representatives are pushing harder against House Speaker Mike Johnson 20 million Americans are at risk of losing their health insurance,
But they are not yet willing to cooperate with Democrats to fix the problem.
A A handful of Republicans in swing districts have signed two discharge petitions To temporarily extend for two years the Affordable Care Act’s expanded tax credit for the health insurance marketplace. Tax credits expire at the end of the month.
If they earn 218 signatures, they can force a vote without the consent of House Republican leadership. Johnson criticized the idea of extending the credit on Tuesday as the House prepares to vote on his health care bill.
“This is no solution to the problem,” Johnson told reporters at his weekly news conference. “It’s just adding more money, further subsidizing a broken system, and the subsidies go to the insurance companies. They’re not trying to solve the cost problem.”
But many Republicans in tough re-election bids fear they could pay a price if they don’t increase subsidies. Republicans hope they can get an amendment to increase subsidies to a Republican bill that will be voted on later this week.
“The underlying Republican bill is a good bill that helps deal with the long-term costs of health care, but there are many of us Republicans who want a good short-term answer to the expiration of the tax credit,” Rep. Nick LaLotta (R-N.Y.) told reporters.
Other Republicans leading the charge include Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Jane Kiggans of Virginia, both of whom represent districts that Democrats want to flip.
“I feel like Fitzpatrick and Keggans understand the need to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credit,” he told reporters Friday. “We just need to find common ground that aligns with our values.”
Currently, two discharge petitions exist to temporarily extend the credit. But House Democratic leadership, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, has so far only supported extending the tax credit for three years, a nonstarter for Republicans.
Representative Mike Lawler, one of only three Republicans who represent a district that voted for Kamala Harris, told Independent That his group has “more than enough Republican signatures, so if Hakeem Jeffries would actually lead his caucus to push the bill forward,” it would pass.
But none of the discharge petitions have received enough signatures to get a floor vote. The House will go on recess this weekend and will not reconvene until early January.
“It tells me they’re interested in the politics of it, not solving the problem,” LaLotta said. “If they are serious about solving the problems of their constituents they should consider that bill.”
Even if this legislation passes the House, it will face a tough fight in the Senate. Many Senate Republicans want to move money to health savings accounts and the Senate A vote to do so was held last week, which failed due to Democratic opposition.,
Still, some Democrats, even from swing districts, have signed discharge petitions.
“We need to bring that tax credit back, at least temporarily, until we find better solutions,” said Representative Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas). Independent,