On Thursday, House Democrats called on Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to hold an immediate vote on extending the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that set to expire at the end of the year.
## The Push for a Vote
Democrats succeeded this week in forcing a vote on a three-year extension of the ObamaCare tax credits when four centrist Republicans bucked GOP leaders and endorsed a discharge petition to bring the legislation to the floor.
## Republican Division and Johnson’s Delay
The issue has severely divided Republicans, and Johnson has punted the vote into next month – after the subsidies expire Dec. 31. That’s a mistake, the Democrats said, because the delay ensures millions of Americans will see their out-of-pocket health costs spike before Congress can act.
## Dems’ Argument
“Under no circumstances should the House of Representatives adjourn until we successfully extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits for tens of millions of Americans,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said. “The American people deserve a vote today. Not tomorrow, not next week, not next year – today.”
## No Chance to Expedite
The plea has no chance of expediting the vote. The House is scheduled to leave Washington on Thursday for the holiday recess, and there’s no appetite among GOP leaders to revisit a topic that’s fractured them for months.
## GOP Health Reforms
They passed their own partisan package of health reforms Wednesday, and although the legislation doesn’t address the expiring subsidies, Republicans are hoping it provides some political cover as an alternative to ObamaCare that Senate Democrats ignored.
## Dems on the Last Day
Democrats, on the last legislative day of the year, are fighting to undermine the Republicans’ message by highlighting Johnson’s refusal to stage a vote on the tax credits before they expire.
## Dem Whip’s Call
“To Speaker Johnson: Don’t send us home without a vote. Put this bill on the floor,” said Rep. Katherine Clark (Mass.), the Democratic whip. “The American people are watching, and they deserve a vote.”
## Republican Stance
Most Republicans are backing Johnson’s decision to delay the vote until January. But a smaller group – including the four Republicans who signed the Jeffries discharge petition – are siding with the Democrats in pushing for a vote before Congress adjourns for the year.
## Lawler’s Statement
“If I was in leadership, I would put it on the floor for a vote immediately,” Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) said.
## Key Takeaways
– Democrats are demanding an immediate vote on ACA subsidies before they expire Dec. 31.
– Four centrist Republicans backed a discharge petition to force a floor vote.
– Speaker Johnson has postponed the vote to January, risking higher health costs for millions.
The debate underscores a deep rift within the House over how to handle the upcoming expiration of health-care subsidies and highlights the Democrats’ urgency to secure a vote before Congress adjourns for the holiday recess.
