Four House Republicans broke away from the GOP to force a vote extending expiring healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.
This was one of the debates during the government shutdown that started in October and ended in November.
It remains a key factor as another January 30 government funding deadline looms and another shutdown could occur.
Per Just the News:
A group of four House Republicans on Wednesday joined with Democrats to force a vote on extending COVID-19-era enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, which are set to expire at the end of the year.
The move follows a protracted battle in both chambers of Congress over how to deal with the expiration. The Senate previously rejected plans from both parties, including a similar Democratic-led extension initiative.
GOP Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Pa.; Mike Lawler, N.Y.; Rob Bresnahan, Ohio; and Ryan Mackenzie, Pa.; all signed on to a discharge petition to force the vote, according to Politico.
The measure will likely clear the lower chamber, though it remains unclear whether the Republican-led Senate would approve the extension under the circumstances.
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) slammed House leadership, announcing his decision to sign onto the 3-year extension.
“This morning I signed the discharge for the clean 3-year extension of the enhanced premium tax credit. While I have been working for a bipartisan compromise with reforms, the failure of leadership to allow a vote on the floor left me with no choice but to sign the Democrats discharge petition,” Lawler said.
This morning I signed the discharge for the clean 3-year extension of the enhanced premium tax credit. While I have been working for a bipartisan compromise with reforms, the failure of leadership to allow a vote on the floor left me with no choice but to sign the Democrats…
— Mike Lawler (@lawler4ny) December 17, 2025
Rep. Bob Breshnahan (R-PA) also went after Congressional leadership. “Doing nothing was not an option, and although this is not a bill I ever intended to support, it is the only option remaining,” he said:
Despite our months-long call for action, leadership on both sides of the aisle failed to work together to advance any bipartisan compromise, leaving this as the only way to protect the 28,000 people in my district from higher costs.
Families in NEPA cannot afford to have the rug pulled out from under them. Doing nothing was not an option, and although this is not a bill I ever intended to support, it is the only option remaining.
I urge my colleagues to set politics aside, put people first, and come together around a bipartisan deal.
Despite our months-long call for action, leadership on both sides of the aisle failed to work together to advance any bipartisan compromise, leaving this as the only way to protect the 28,000 people in my district from higher costs.
Families in NEPA cannot afford to have the…
— Congressman Rob Bresnahan Jr. (@RepBresnahan) December 17, 2025
This is a developing story.
The post JUST IN: Four Republicans Sign Onto Democratic Plan to Force a Vote on Obamacare Subsidies Before January 1 Expiration appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.