House Republicans are under pressure to finalize a health care plan before the holiday recess, with a looming deadline that could affect millions of Americans. The current focus is on whether to extend subsidies from the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which are set to expire on December 31. If Congress does not act, insurance premiums could rise significantly in the new year.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, representing Louisiana, is steering discussions towards a proposal that does not extend the ACA subsidies. Instead, it aims to provide some funds to help offset health care costs for Americans. This approach has received pushback from Republicans facing competitive races in the upcoming midterm elections. Many of these lawmakers argue that any health care reform must be bipartisan and include an extension of the subsidies.
Inside a closed-door GOP meeting, Representative Ralph Norman from South Carolina emphasized the urgent need for a solution, stating, “The consensus is we need to come up with something.” Representative Jim Jordan from Ohio warned that excluding ACA funding could lead moderates to collaborate with Democrats, potentially undermining GOP efforts.
Johnson plans to hold a vote on the proposed health plan next week, just before the House adjourns for a two-week break. Among the ideas being considered are expanding health savings accounts and funding for cost-sharing reductions. Johnson expressed confidence in the proposals, saying, “We have some low-hanging fruit… things that every Republican agrees to; Democrats won’t.”
Despite this optimism, some Republicans recognize that a comprehensive overhaul of the ACA will require more time and consensus. “Health care is unbelievably complicated,” stated Representative Dusty Johnson from South Dakota. He noted that meaningful reform cannot be achieved overnight.
A group of fifteen House Republicans, primarily from swing districts, has supported a bipartisan framework proposed by Representatives Jen Kiggans from Virginia and Josh Gottheimer from New Jersey. This framework includes a two-year extension of the ACA subsidies, along with some modifications. However, this faction remains outnumbered, as many GOP members oppose any efforts to extend what they label as “Obamacare.”
Johnson is aligning himself with the majority of his party, which is resistant to extending the ACA funding. One GOP lawmaker indicated that the Speaker is “drawing a line in the sand” against renewing ACA tax credits. The potential for a discharge petition, which would require a majority of the House to force a vote, remains uncertain. Achieving the necessary 218 signatures could be challenging, requiring support from both Republicans and Democrats.
Representative Brian Fitzpatrick from Pennsylvania has introduced his own proposal to extend ACA subsidies for two years, incorporating input from the Senate and the White House. Supported by several Democratic representatives, this plan aims to broaden access to health savings accounts and includes additional reforms. Fitzpatrick has threatened to initiate a discharge petition if the leadership does not take action.
Although Fitzpatrick’s bill is designed to provide a comprehensive solution, it faces significant hurdles. Some Democratic aides highlight that certain provisions may be impractical to implement within the next year. Representative Jeff Van Drew from New Jersey stressed the necessity of extending the ACA subsidies with reforms to safeguard vulnerable Republican colleagues and maintain the party’s fragile majority.
“The game plan is to get on your knees and pray,” Van Drew remarked, expressing his disagreement with leadership’s stance on allowing the subsidies to lapse. He believes that permitting the funding to end could jeopardize Republican seats in the upcoming midterms. “If you’re a conservative and you’re a Republican, do you want a Democrat majority next year? I don’t think so,” he said.
Even if a bill passes in the House, it must also secure approval in the Senate, which is not guaranteed. Representative Ted Lieu from California pointed out that any delay in action could lead to skyrocketing health care premiums for millions. He criticized Republicans for not having taken the discharge petition seriously earlier, emphasizing the urgent need to extend ACA tax credits.
The ongoing discussions reflect a broader struggle within the Republican Party as it attempts to navigate differing opinions on health care policy while facing significant political pressures. With time running out, the outcome of this debate could have lasting implications for both the party and the millions of Americans who rely on affordable health care.
