House members join a bipartisan effort to extend ACA subsidies : NPR
March 3, at the Capitol, the day before President Trump’s State of the Union address in Washington.
Julia Démarée Nikhinson/AP
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Julia Démarée Nikhinson/AP
Four House Republicans defied their party’s leadership on Wednesday by attempting to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, which expire at the end of the year.
Hours before the House passed a narrow GOP health care bill that would not extend subsidies if signed into law, the quartet joined Democrats to force leaders to schedule a vote on a three-year extension of health insurance subsidies.
The decision by moderates in competitive districts — Reps. Rob Bresnahan Jr., Brian Fitzpatrick and Ryan Mackenzie of Pennsylvania, alongside Mike Lawler of New York — means the House will likely vote on reviving the grants in early January.
Fitzpatrick and Democrat Tom Suozzi of New York co-chair the House Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group that attempts to develop policy solutions and legislative deals across party lines.
The two spoke with NPR’s Michel Martin about why House Speaker Mike Johnson resisted a vote to extend health care subsidies, how they plan to compromise on the bill with the Senate and what they fear could happen to millions of Americans if Congress fails to find a solution to the issue.
Listen to the full interview by clicking the blue button above.
The radio version of this story was edited by Reena Advani and produced by Luke Garrett and Paige Waterhouse. Web copy was written by Destinee Adams and edited by Obed Manuel.
