Posted on 12/17/2025 9:13:39 AM PST by Miami Rebel
Four moderate House Republicans are rebelling against Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to join his Democratic counterpart in forcing a vote on enhanced Obamacare subsidies set to expire at the end of this year.
Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., Ryan Mackenzie, R-Pa., Rob Bresnahan, R-Pa., and Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., all joined a discharge petition by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., on his push for a three-year extension of the subsidies.
A discharge petition is a mechanism for overriding the will of House leaders to get a chamber-wide vote on specific legislation, provided it has support from a majority of lawmakers.
In this case, the four House Republicans' signatures put Jeffries' petition at 218 — clinching the critical majority threshold.
"I've always supported bipartisan solutions that would bring about healthcare affordability in this country," Mackenzie told Fox News Digital on Wednesday of his decision. "Leader Jeffries and the Democrats have refused to sign onto either of those bipartisan solutions. And so at this point, our leadership is not calling up a bill to extend the [Obamacare] tax credits."
He called for a vote on the Democrat-led solution as well as two bipartisan bills offering one and two-year extensions, respectively, with reforms.
It comes despite Johnson warning Republicans earlier on Wednesday not to support Jeffries' petition, arguing it was not the best way to legislate. Johnson told CNBC's "Squawk Box" that it was effectively "doing an end-run around the majority party, the speaker or the regular process is not the best way to make law."
The House is expected to vote on a bill that Republicans say is aimed at lowering healthcare costs for all Americans, without extending the subsidies — which they argue are part of a deeply flawed public healthcare system.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
>W-we’re skarewed guys if we don’t kowtow sniff (whimpering intensifies)
There’s that fighting spirit we saw in the RINO class of 2017!
THERE IS NO CONSEQUENCE OF REPEALING OBAMACARE THAT IS WORSE THAN OBAMACARE ITSELF
It doesn't affect me, but it affects the working poor. And they vote.
Exactly. Capitulation to the democrats never gets you any additional democrat votes, but it certainly causes you to lose Republican votes!!
Right on all counts. Interstate insurance wouldbe good too, as would be loosening restrictions on international prescription purchasing.
But those don’t existy yet, and the votes are not yet there to make them exist.
It could well be the best strategy would be to reinstate the subsidies at a lower level, whicle iplementing them, so lower-income people have a choice.
For a comparison, think about the FEC subsidy for presidential elections. You know, the one where you check “No” on the box to contribute $3 to the fund? In 1976, both Carter and Ford maxed out on FEC subsidies to the tune of $30 million, but limited in their spending as well. Over time, rule changes, PACs, Court rulings, have changed the playing field so that while the fund still exists, no serious candidate makes use of it. That might be the way to get rid of Obamacare . . . smother it with better options.
The people who benefit most from these ACA subsidies (other than the insurance industry itself) are: (1) self-employed individuals who cannot buy group plans under the current law, and (2) early retirees who aren't yet eligible for Medicaid.
I can empathize with (1) because I've been in that position, but I honestly don't give a crap about (2) because I have no interest in subsidizing health insurance for people who decided to retire early while I'm paying for my own.
Would this pass the Senate?
You’re not supposed to think that way. Some here would rather lose that seat so they can blame the GOP for losing it
The political consequence is that any Republican who won his congressional seat by less than 5% loses this go-round without an Obamacare replacement.
Your thoughts are right on target. I favor a one-year extension with provisions to have the insurance industry develop products to replace Obamacare products with sensible coverage policies. And any subsidies should go to the people directly.
The ONLY subsidies ending are not the original Obamacare subsidies but the extended subsidies enacted during covid, enacted to be TEMPORARY. All subsidies that were enhanced just go back to the subsidy they were before. All subsidies expanded (for covid) to folks with greater than 400% of the poverty level, are eliminated for those higher income folks.
Pelousey would have had the balls of anyone on her team going off the reservation in a vice. Johnson is weak.
Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., you know it is a commie effort with one of the lead commies on board.
This definitely makes no sense. Why would they line up under Hakeem Jeffries? >>> PA Fitzpatrick is a long time commie.
Sorry — I’m using the legal Federal poverty level definition of “poor.”
WEAK SISTERS!!! They only care about keeping their DEATS, NOT SAVING AMERICA!!
I know this is unpopular views for this place, but time is needed to allow the private market to create policies that are unburdened by Obamacare requirements and that can take at least a year.>>> Like an insurance model and not an income distribution model. I think The community based pricing is still in effect. Not true actuarial costing. and it’s not really insurance.
Democrats are LAW-LESS because Republicans are BALL-LESS!
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