US House Speaker Mike Johnson announced Tuesday that he won’t call a vote to extend enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), guaranteeing their expiration at the end of this month. This decision means millions of Americans who get coverage through Obamacare will face higher insurance premiums next year.
Johnson made the announcement after a closed-door Republican caucus meeting, stating that leadership failed to reach an agreement with centrist members on ACA funding. He said some Republicans in competitive districts wanted to vote on subsidies but couldn’t come to an agreement due to differing priorities and concerns about spending cuts.
Centrist Republicans, including Reps. Jen Kiggans of Virginia, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Mike Lawler of New York, pushed for an ACA funding extension, arguing that it would help reduce costs for their constituents. However, party leaders told them they’d need to find spending cuts to pay for the extension.
Lawler criticized Johnson’s leadership, saying it’s “absurd” that Republicans wouldn’t vote on subsidies. Some Republicans might sign a discharge petition by Democrats to force a vote, but it’s uncertain whether it will succeed.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is pushing for a clean three-year extension with Democratic support. Reps. Tim Burchett and Andy Harris expressed skepticism about the plan, with Harris saying that any ACA-related bill must be broader than just addressing enrollees to secure his vote.
Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/republicans-ditch-vote-obamacare-funding-premiums-rise-2026-rcna249521