House Democrats Force Vote on Obamacare Subsidy Extension

Despite Republican control in the House, Democrats have managed to sidestep Speaker Mike Johnson and force a vote to extend Obamacare subsidies for another three years proving once again that the left will do whatever it takes to keep propping up a failing healthcare law on the backs of American taxpayers.

A discharge petition, signed by all House Democrats and four Republicans, hit the 218-signature threshold on Wednesday, effectively bypassing House leadership and compelling a floor vote. That vote could come as early as today, though it’s more likely to take place in January after procedural timelines expire.

Speaker Johnson had previously refused to bring the measure to the floor, rightly stating, “In the end, there was not an agreement.” And why would there be? The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been a financial disaster since its inception, a patchwork of government mandates and subsidies that has only survived thanks to repeated cash infusions from Washington.

“The failure of leadership to allow a vote on the floor left me with no choice but to sign the Democrats’ discharge petition,” said Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), one of the four Republicans who joined Democrats in handing them the victory. He was joined by Brian Fitzpatrick, Rob Bresnahan, and Ryan Mackenzie.

The bill would extend enhanced premium tax credits also known as ACA subsidies that are set to expire at the end of this year. Democrats argue that letting them lapse would cause a spike in insurance premiums. But that’s exactly the problem: the system only works when it’s propped up with taxpayer money.

Here’s the reality:

• Obamacare premiums have increased by over 141% for some families since 2013.

• Taxpayers shelled out $89 billion in subsidies in 2023 alone, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

• Without subsidies, the average plan on the ACA exchange becomes unaffordable for most middle-income Americans, defeating the entire point of the law.

And while Democrats parade this vote as a victory for “affordable healthcare,” all they’re doing is doubling down on the failure. Even President Trump called it out during the government shutdown in November, slamming Obamacare as a “disaster” and arguing that money should be going directly to the people, not to “money-sucking insurance companies.”

“I don’t want to extend them at all,” Trump said. “I’d rather not extend them... because the unaffordable care act has been a disaster.”

But for Democrats, expanding government dependency is the goal. And now, with a few Republicans caving under pressure, they’re getting closer to locking in yet another massive taxpayer giveaway.

If passed in the House, the measure would move to the Senate, where its fate remains uncertain. Senate Majority Whip John Thune acknowledged the development but downplayed its immediacy: “Even if they have a sufficient number of signatures, I doubt they would vote this week.”

Still, the warning signs are clear. As conservative leadership tries to rein in government spending and fix a healthcare system in crisis, Democrats are pushing hard to enshrine more bloated subsidies that mask the real problem: Obamacare doesn’t work unless the federal government keeps writing checks.

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