House GOP Fails to Extend Affordable Care Act Subsidies Amid Tensions

The House will not vote on an extension of the Affordable Care Act's enhanced premium subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the month. According to CBS News, a last-minute effort by moderate Republicans to include the extension in a GOP health care package was blocked by the House Rules Committee, which ruled all proposed amendments out of order.

Moderate Republicans, including Rep. Mike Lawler from New York, expressed frustration, warning that allowing these subsidies to expire could lead to increased insurance premiums for over 20 million Americans.

Rep. Lawler called the decision a 'tremendous mistake', stating it plays into the Democrats' hands for the upcoming elections. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged internal pressure but ultimately did not allow for amendment votes, despite heated discussions with moderates.

The GOP's health care plan does not address the expiring subsidies and instead aims to lower premiums through other means, which some moderates feel does not adequately address the immediate crisis. The Hill reports that tensions have escalated among Republicans as moderates confront leadership over the handling of health care issues, with potential electoral consequences looming for the party in the 2026 midterms.

Democrats have proposed their own discharge petition to extend the subsidies for three years, but they require support from four Republican lawmakers to move forward. As the deadline approaches, the division within the GOP over health care policy continues to be a significant point of contention.