Four Republicans join Democrats to force vote on bill that would extend Obamacare subsidies

In a major setback for Mike Johnson and the House GOP, four Republicans have joined with Democrats to sign a petition forcing a vote on legislation that will extend for three years premium tax credits for Affordable Care Act healthcare plans.

The stunning move comes after House Republican leaders pushed ahead with a healthcare bill that does not address the soaring monthly premiums that millions of people will soon endure as the tax credits for those who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act expire at year’s end.

Democrats led by Hakeem Jeffries, the minority leader of New York, needed 218 signatures to force a floor vote on their bill, which would extend the subsides for three years.

Johnson, along with Donald Trump and many other Republicans, oppose extending the credits, but some moderate Republicans were nervous about allowing healthcare costs to increase. Johnson 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 ACA marketplace.

Brian Fitzpatrick, Robert Bresnahan and Ryan Mackenzie, all Republican representatives from Pennsylvania, and Mike Lawler of New York signed on to the petition Wednesday morning, pushing it to the magic number of 218. A vote on the subsidy bill could come as soon as January under House rules.

“Unfortunately, it is House leadership themselves that have forced this outcome.” Fitzpatrick said in a statement.

The revolt against GOP leadership came after days of talks centered on the healthcare subsidies.

House Republicans pushed ahead Wednesday a 100-plus-page healthcare package without the subsidies, instead focusing on long-sought GOP proposals designed to expand insurance coverage options for small businesses and the self-employed.

Fitzpatrick and Lawler tried to add a temporary extension of the subsidies to the bill, but were denied.

“Our only request was a floor vote on this compromise, so that the American People’s voice could be heard on this issue. That request was rejected. Then, at the request of House leadership I, along with my colleagues, filed multiple amendments, and testified at length to those amendments,” Fitzpatrick said. “House leadership then decided to reject every single one of these amendments.

“As I’ve stated many times before, the only policy that is worse than a clean three-year extension without any reforms, is a policy of complete expiration without any bridge,” Fitzpatrick said.