Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said there will not be an amendment vote on extending expiring ObamaCare enhanced subsidies as part of a House Republican health care bill this week, in a move that is infuriating moderate Republicans who had been pushing to go on the record about the subsidies.
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), one of the members who had been pushing for a vote to extend the subsidies that expire Dec. 31, fumed at the decision as he emerged from a House Republican Conference meeting Tuesday morning.
“I think it’s idiotic not to have an up-or-down vote on this issue,” Lawler said, adding: “It is political malpractice.”
Truthfully, if the subsidies had been extended through 2026 to any degree, it would be a complete slap in the face to the responsible people who signed up by the deadline (Dec 15) to avoid a gap in coverage. Not that I wouldn’t have been happy for those who fucked around and got rewarded for it, but I’d also have been pissed because I followed the rules and I’m locked into a suboptimal plan now because it’s the best I could afford – yet it’s complete shit. Even a partial subsidy would likely have empowered me to be able to select something better. Not to mention, I’ve spent the past month trying to decide if I can even afford insurance at all. And also not to mention that the rules and policies should have been fully and completely finalized well ahead of the November start of open enrollment.