Jeffries reveals last-minute move to extend COVID-era subsidies as House shutdown vote looms
In a strategic move to address both the ongoing government shutdown and the impending expiration of Obamacare subsidies, House Democrats are proposing a three-year extension of these critical healthcare tax credits as an amendment to the current spending legislation. This effort, led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, aims to provide a lifeline to millions of Americans who could face steep increases in healthcare premiums if the subsidies are allowed to lapse at the end of the year. During a press conference, Jeffries emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Republicans have created a healthcare crisis all across America,” and urged them to collaborate with Democrats to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.
The backdrop of this legislative maneuver is a government shutdown that began on October 1, primarily triggered by a standoff over unrelated healthcare demands. Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have been vocal about their insistence that any short-term spending bill must first address the extension of these COVID-era subsidies, initially implemented as an emergency response to the pandemic. Despite their efforts, Republicans have largely dismissed these demands, indicating a willingness to proceed with a spending bill that would fund the government until January 30, 2026, without making concessions on healthcare. Alongside the amendment for the Obamacare subsidies, Democrats have introduced several other proposals aimed at protecting federal workers and safety-net programs, though the likelihood of these amendments passing is slim.
As the House prepares to vote on the spending package, the tension between the two parties remains palpable. Democrats are framing their push for healthcare reform as part of a broader commitment to providing affordable healthcare, a struggle they assert has been ongoing since the establishment of programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Representative Teresa Fernández articulated this sentiment, highlighting the historical fight for healthcare access and vowing not to relent in their efforts. With lawmakers racing back to Washington, D.C., the outcome of this legislation could significantly impact both the government’s operational status and the healthcare landscape for millions of Americans, underscoring the high stakes involved in this political showdown.
Democrats
will attempt to attach a three-year extension of expiring Obamacare subsidies to spending legislation that looks poised to end the ongoing government shutdown.
Jeffries and a handful of other Democrats at a press conference on Tuesday said the last-gasp effort would be submitted as an amendment.
“Before the Rules Committee this evening, House Democrats will give the Republicans another opportunity to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits by introducing an amendment that will extend these tax credits for a three-year period of time,” Jeffries said.
SCREAMING MATCH ERUPTS BETWEEN HAKEEM JEFFRIES, MIKE LAWLER AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CHAOS CONTINUES
“Republicans have created a healthcare crisis all across America. You now have an opportunity to actually take some action by working with Democrats before the Rules Committee this evening to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credit,” he continued.
Democrats have also introduced several other amendments, including a prohibition on blanket firings of federal workers until 2029, a prevention to cuts to Medicaid or Medicare, a restriction to cuts for several federal safety-net programs and more.
Those amendments are almost certain to fail.
The government entered a 42-day
shutdown
on Oct 1 when Democrats rejected a Republican-led short-term spending bill over unrelated healthcare demands. Democrats led by Jeffries and Senate Minority leader
Chuck Schumer,
D-N.Y., demanded Congress first consider extending temporary, COVID-era Obamacare subsidies that lawmakers passed in 2021 as an emergency response to the pandemic.
MIKE JOHNSON EYES WEDNESDAY VOTE WITH END OF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN SIGHT
Now that those subsidies are set to sunset at the end of the year, Democrats have raised alarms that their expiration could leave millions of Americans paying significantly higher healthcare premiums overnight.
Republicans rejected those demands out of hand and now look poised to re-open the government without having made any concessions on the subsidies.
The short-term spending bill before the House would extend government funding through Jan. 30, 2026 and advances three of the twelve annual spending bills. It also prohibits the Trump administration from conducting mass layoffs to its federal workforce through January 30.
DEMOCRATS, LEFT EMPTY-HANDED IN SHUTDOWN, TURN FURY ON SCHUMER
Democrats at Tuesday’s press conference framed Democrats’ stand on the Obamacare subsidies as a longstanding prioritization of healthcare issues.
“Democrats have been fighting Republicans in a long struggle to provide healthcare to Americans. We have been fighting Republicans when we created Medicare, when we created Medicaid, when we created the Affordable Care Act, and we’re not going to give up that fight,” Rep. Teresa Fernández said.
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The House of Representatives is set to consider the spending package on Wednesday evening as lawmakers rush back to Washington, D.C. from across the country.
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
