Jeffries vows to ‘pressure’ Senate on health care insurance subsidies
December 21 (UPI) — House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, R-Y., said Sunday he expects lawmakers to reach a bipartisan compromise on extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits.
Jeffries said on ABC News’ “This Week” that lawmakers will pass the legislation bipartisan compromise Extending the ACA tax credits in the House would likely force Senate Republicans to extend health insurance subsidies for at least 22 million Americans who will face higher premiums in the new year.
Congress postponed due to Christmas Without reaching an agreement on extending the tax credits, which Jeffries promised House lawmakers would consider in early January.
“This will put pressure on John Thune and Senate Republicans to do the right thing by the American people by directly extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits so we can keep health care affordable for the tens of millions of Americans who deserve to see a doctor when they need it,” Jeffries said.
Democrats have said they will use it against Republicans in next year’s midterm elections if the two sides cannot reach an agreement on the extension.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has opposed extending the tax credits, but is expected to be forced to allow the House to vote on a bill expanding the tax credits, thanks to several Republican members of Congress joining with Democrats to sign a repeal petition for the legislation. Photo: Bonnie Cash/UPI
Rep. Pat Ryan, D-N.Y., said access to affordable health care remains one of the most pressing issues among voters.
“This is a very pathetic situation,” Ryan said. “The last time Republicans made a big push to repeal the ACA, we faced a huge wave. completely deleted“And I think that’s probably what’s going to happen here again.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said he does not expect the three-year extension of subsidies to pass the upper house of Congress, but House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DY) said he expects the Senate to acquiesce and pass the resolution in January. Photo: Bonnie Cash/UPI
A handful of centrist Republicans in vulnerable districts in Congress overrode House Speaker Mike Johnson and joined with key Democrats to allow a vote on a three-year extension of the tax credit when the House returns to Washington the week of Jan. 5.
Some Republican leaders have said they favor allowing Covid-era tax credits that have made health care more affordable for millions of Americans to expire or be phased out over several years. But other members of the GOP have said they favor extending the loans longer.
The Senate voted 51-48 on Thursday. Rejected three-year extension of the ACA Four Democrats joined the GOP and voted against it.
