The House is pushing ahead with legislation to renew subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans.
Rep. Mike Lawler of New York, one of the Republicans who crossed party lines to back the Democratic proposal, portrayed it as a vehicle senators could use to reach a compromise. “No matter the issue, if the House puts forward relatively strong, bipartisan support, it makes it easier for the senators to get there,” Lawler said.
If ultimately successful in the House this week, the voting would show there is bipartisan support for a proposed three-year extension of the tax credits that are available for those who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The action forcing a vote has been an affront to Johnson and GOP leaders who essentially lost control of their House majority as the renegade lawmakers joined Democrats for the workaround.Instead, a small group of members from both parties are working on an alternative plan that could find support in both chambers and become law. One proposal would be to shorten the extension of the subsidy to two years and make changes to the program. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said any plan passing muster in the Senate will need to have income limits to ensure that it's focused on those who most need the help and that beneficiaries would have to at least pay a nominal amount for their coverage. That way, he said, “insurance companies can't game the system and auto-enroll people.” Finally, Thune said there would need to be some expansion of health savings accounts, which allow people to save money and withdraw it tax-free as long as the money is spent on qualified medical expenses.It's unclear the negotiations will yield a bill that the Senate will take up. Democrats are making clear that the higher health insurance costs many Americans are facing will be a political centerpiece of their efforts to retake the majority in the House and Senate in the fall elections. Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who led his party's effort to push the health care issue forward, particularly challenged Republicans in competitive congressional districts to join if they really wanted to prevent steep premium increases for their constituents. Before Wednesday's vote, he called on colleagues to “address the health care crisis in this country and make sure that tens of millions of people have the ability to go see a doctor when they need one.” Republican Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Robert Bresnahan and Ryan Mackenzie, all from Pennsylvania, and Lawler signed the Democrats' petition, pushing it to the magic number of 218 needed to force a House vote. All four represent key swing districts whose races will help determine which party takes charge of the House next year. Johnson, R-La., had discussed allowing more politically vulnerable GOP lawmakers a chance to vote on bills that would temporarily extend the subsidies while also adding changes such as income caps for beneficiaries. But after days of discussions, the leadership sided with the more conservative wing of the party’s conference, which has assailed the subsidies as propping up a failed program. Lawmakers turn to discharge petitions to show support for an action and potentially force a vote on the House floor, but they are rarely successful. This session of Congress has proven an exception., for instance, occurred after Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., introduced a petition on the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The signature effort was backed by all House Democrats and four Republicans. Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Breakdown of Jaguars Wild Card matchup against the Buffalo BillsSuperstitious Jaguars fan refuses to take down old Halloween decoration because they keep winningNassau County woman trying to help after learning school lunch debt is up to $200KService and therapy dogs to greet Bills fans at JAX ahead of gameDuval County School Board adds Schools of Hope to legislative agenda amid parent concerns0:51Raines Vikings celebrated at DCPS school board meetingWestside apartment complex again under scrutiny as residents report squatters, safety concerns2 separate police-involved shootings leave one man dead, one injuredStart your new year off right with these events from Jan. 9 - 11Start 2026 with purpose: Volunteer for United Way Northeast Florida’s MLK Day of ServiceMan killed in officer-involved shooting in Bartram Park areaCommunity rallies behind Middleburg teacher after she lost a decade of work in a fireMeet the man behind Trevor Lawrence’s viral gifted grillz after game winLight Weight: Jaguars fan goes viral after squatting Trevor Lawrence at local barRichard's Swing Makeover: Final assembly & first swing test!Northeast Florida agencies, advocates, survivors work to expose, stop human traffickingDeSantis on Maduro's capturePresident Donald Trump says the US will 'run' Venezuela, announces capture of Maduro and his wifePresident Donald Trump says the US will 'run' Venezuela, announces capture of Maduro and his wifeNavy sailors accused of getting paid thousands to marry Chinese nationals who wanted legal status▶Start 2026 With Purpose: Volunteer on MLK Day of Service With United Way Northeast FloridaBracing for weekend storms
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