WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Mike Johnson’s bipartisan coalition voted Wednesday to advance a measure aimed at reviving the U.S. economy. Increase subsidies during the epidemic The program, which lowered health insurance costs for about 22 million people, expired last month.
The 221-205 vote is a key test before the bill is expected to pass on Thursday. That’s because four centrist Republican lawmakers joined Democrats in signing a so-called removal petition to force a vote. After last year’s government shutdown failed to address the issue, they said taking no action was not an option as many voters faced soaring health insurance premiums starting this month.
Rep. Mike Lawler of New York, one of the Republicans who crossed party lines in support of the Democratic proposal, described it as a tool that senators could use to reach compromise.
“Regardless of the issue, it’s easier for senators to come to an agreement if the House comes up with relatively strong bipartisan support,” Lawler said.
Ultimately, nine Republicans joined Democrats in advancing the measure.
Republicans bypass their leaders
If ultimately successful in the House this week, the vote would show bipartisan support for a three-year extension of the tax credit available to people who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The move to force a vote was an insult to Johnson and Republican leaders, who have essentially lost control of the House majority as rebellious lawmakers joined Democrats in seeking a solution.
But there is no need for the Senate to consider the bill.
Instead, a small group of members from both parties are working on an alternative plan that could gain support in the House and Senate and become law. One of the recommendations was to shorten the subsidy period to two years and make changes to the program.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said any plan passing the Senate would need to have income limits to ensure it focuses on those most in need, and beneficiaries would have to pay at least a nominal amount for coverage.
That way, he said, “insurance companies can’t cheat the system and automatically enroll people.” Finally, Thune said there needs to be an expansion of health savings accounts that allow people to save money and withdraw it tax-free, as long as the money is used for qualified medical expenses.
Democrats are pushing the issue
It’s unclear whether the negotiations will result in a bill that the Senate will accept. Democrats have made clear that the higher health insurance costs faced by many Americans will be at the center of their bid to retake the House and Senate majorities in the fall elections.
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who has led Democratic efforts to advance health care issues, specifically challenged Republicans in competitive congressional districts to join in if they really want to prevent their constituents from seeing steep premium increases. Ahead of Wednesday’s vote, he called on colleagues to “address the health care crisis in this country and ensure tens of millions of people have the ability to see a doctor when they need it.”
Republican Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Robert Bresnahan and Ryan Mackenzie of Pennsylvania, along with Lawler, signed the Democratic petition, pushing it to the magic number 218 needed for a House vote. All four represent key swing districts whose races will help determine which party controls the House next year.
Johnson, R-Louisiana, has discussed giving more politically vulnerable Republican lawmakers a chance to vote on a bill that would temporarily extend subsidies while increasing the income cap for beneficiaries, among other changes. But after days of discussions, the leadership sided with the more conservative wing of the party congress, which criticized the subsidies as propping up a failed program.
Lawmakers turn to petitions to show support for an action and potentially force a House vote, but they are rarely successful. This Congress has proven to be an exception.
For example, the vote to require the Justice Department to release documents on Jeffrey Epstein came after Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., introduced a petition for the Epstein Documents Transparency Act. The signature effort has the support of all House Democrats and four Republicans.