4 GOP reps join Democrats in forcing ACA vote

Four moderate Republican congressmen joined Democrats in the House to force a vote on extending the Affordable Care Act enhanced subsidies, which are due to expire Dec. 31, hiking the cost of health care premiums for millions of Americans.

Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Mike Lawler of New York, Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania and Ryan Mackenzie of Pennsylvania signed the discharge petition filed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries that would force an up-or-down vote on extending the ACA tax credits. The petition was also signed by 214 House Democrats.

Under House rules, a completed discharge petition is subject to a waiting period, meaning no vote could happen until next month — though Johnson could choose to move sooner.

The action came after House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said he won’t call a vote to extend enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, effectively guaranteeing they will expire at the end of this month.

Johnson made the announcement Tuesday after a closed-door Republican caucus meeting, saying that leadership failed to reach a deal with the four centrist members to bring up an ACA amendment on a health care bill set for a vote on Wednesday.

One reason the deal failed is that leaders told the centrist Republicans that they would need to find spending cuts to pay for an ACA funding extension, which is projected to cost about $35 billion per year.

The bill, however, is unlikely to advance in the Senate. While four GOP senators voted to advance a three-year extension alongside Democrats last week, the proposal fell short of the necessary 60 votes to proceed.

If enhanced premium tax credits under the ACA are allowed to expire at the end of the year, out-pocket premiums for 22 million enrollees that receive premium assistance will increase by an average of 114%, or $1,016 per person, KFF reports.