House GOP Blocks Vote on ACA Tax Credits as Premium Hike Deadline Looms

Independent journalism at Truthout faces unprecedented authoritarian censorship. If you value progressive media, please make a year-end donation today.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) announced on Tuesday that the House of Representatives will not hold a vote by the end of this year on extending tax credits for qualified Affordable Care Act (ACA) recipients who receive insurance through the program’s marketplaces.

The decision not to hold a vote means that the expiration of the tax credits — which will result in tremendous hikes in premium costs for those who previously received them — is all but certain.

Johnson cited disagreements within the GOP conference as the reason why a vote couldn’t be held, claiming there was no consensus from Republican lawmakers on how to address the inevitable price increases.

“There’s about a dozen members in the conference that are in these swing districts who are fighting hard to make sure they reduce costs for all of their constituents. … We looked for a way to try to allow for that pressure release valve, and it just was not to be,” Johnson told reporters.

One of those swing district Republicans, centrist Rep. Mike Lawler (R-New York), expressed deep frustration with the announcement.

“I am pissed for the American people. This is absolute bullshit, and it’s absurd,” Lawler said in remarks to NBC........

© Truthout