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Republican Rift Opens Door for New Obamacare Vote

Dec 17, 2025 14:11:00 -0500 by Anita Hamilton | #Politics

Four Republicans signed onto a discharge petition brought by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to force a vote on extending Obamacare subsidies through 2028. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Key Points

Facing increasing pressure to address the affordability crisis amid widespread price increases, a group of Republican lawmakers crossed the aisle Wednesday to join with their Democratic colleagues in forcing a vote on extending healthcare subsidies set to expire on New Year’s Eve.

The move is significant for two reasons. In the short term, it offers a glimmer of hope for lowering monthly premiums for the more than 20 million who rely on the subsidies for plans enacted as part of President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act. More broadly, it shows cracks in the Republican coalition as pressure mounts to address rising costs ahead of next year’s critical midterm elections.

Although a full floor vote in the House of Representatives is unlikely to happen before early January, even the prospect of one means that those enrolled in the so-called Obamacare plans could see relief soon. Without the extensions, monthly costs are expected to more than double on average and four million fewer people would enroll in the plans.

A House vote for the subsidies would put pressure on the Senate to act as well. Last week, the upper chamber shot down a bill by Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York that also would have extended the subsidies. While Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota has ruled out voting on the same measure again, a compromise could be worked out that extends the subsidies for a shorter period and includes more restrictions on eligibility.

Four Republicans signed onto a so-called discharge petition brought by House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York despite opposition by House Speaker Mike Johnson. A discharge petition forces a floor vote without referral by committee if it is signed by 218 Congress members. It is an increasingly popular tactic in a deeply divided Congress and was also used to force a vote on releasing files on financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The Republicans who signed the petition include Michael Lawler of New York plus three representatives from Pennsylvania: Brian Fitzpatrick, Robert Bresnahan, and Ryan Mackenzie.

“While I have been working for a bipartisan compromise with reforms, the failure of leadership to allow a vote on the floor left me with no choice but to sign the Democrats’ discharge petition,” Lawler said.

Earlier in the day, Johnson had expressed his displeasure with the move. “Doing an end-run around the majority party, the speaker or the regular process is not the best way to make law,” he told CNBC.

Johnson had previously declined to put an amendment on the subsidies up for a vote, which spurred the moderate Republicans to sign onto Jeffries’ discharge petition. While Johnson backed a bill that could lower costs in some cases, it wouldn’t have the same broad impact as reducing monthly premiums.

Republicans have largely been opposed to extending the subsidies, arguing that the ACA plans, launched in 2014, have resulted in higher healthcare costs overall and are rife with fraud. But absent another plan with wide support, Republicans face increasing criticism for letting the subsidies expire.

That puts them at greater risk of losing seats in next fall’s midterm elections, which in turn could cost them their majority. Approval ratings for President Donald Trump have fallen well below 50% on average in polls, a drop some blame on his failure to deliver on his campaign promise of lowering prices “on day one.”

Write to Anita Hamilton at anita.hamilton@barrons.com