Four moderate House Republicans on Wednesday, angry at leadership for shutting down a vote on a bipartisan subsidy extension plan, signed a Democratic-led discharge petition. With 218 votes, they will be able to force a vote on extending the subsidies for three years.
It was a step none of the moderates said they wanted to take, since they largely agree the Democratic plan is unworkable. Three years is too long, they say, and there are no eligibility reforms like income caps or eliminating $0 premium plans.
Still, the moderates have been clamoring for a deal for weeks and felt betrayed by leadership, driving them to sign the Democratic petition.
The bloc is facing some of the toughest reelection contests next November. And they thought they had convinced Johnson to grant them a vote — until those negotiations fell apart after leadership insisted any extension needed to be paired with spending cuts.
But the path forward is messy. The enhanced subsidies are still virtually certain to expire because the Senate has already rejected the plan, and the House will not vote on the proposal until next year.
The expiration will increase the costs for tens of millions of Americans who have come to rely on the extra subsidies to defray the costs of their health insurance.
Divisions over the subsidies in the Senate caused the longest government shutdown in history, and lawmakers seem no closer to finding an agreement.
If all 218 members who signed the discharge petition vote for it, the measure will pass the House.
The moderates are then hoping for a negotiation with senators to incorporate the changes many Republicans want. But the measure will need 60 votes to pass the Senate— if Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) even brings it up.
In addition, the biggest unresolved sticking point for both parties is abortion. Democrats won't support a bill with the abortion restrictions Republicans say they require.
No comments:
Post a Comment