There were reports that the Trump White House was prepared to announce a proposal to extend Obamacare subsidies for two years. On Monday, the White House delayed announcing its health care proposal.
Speaker Mike Johnson was the reason why.
The Wall Street Journal reported:
Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) warned the White House that most House Republicans are reluctant to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, according to people familiar with the matter. This shows how politically difficult it will be to stave off a sharp increase in health care costs for many Americans next year.
Johnson’s message, in a phone call with administration officials, came as President Trump’s advisers were crafting a health care plan that extended subsidies for two years.
The only problem is that there appear to be enough moderate Republican votes to approve an extension of the Obamacare subsidies, if it is brought to the House of Representatives.
It’s not that Mike Johnson doesn’t have the votes to extend the subsidies. It’s that Mike Johnson doesn’t want to extend the subsidies.
Hakeem Jeffries called out Johnson on CNN:
It seems to me that the votes in the House of Representatives do exist. As well as possibly in the Senate to expand the Affordable Care Act tax credits. But unfortunately, the Republican leaders in the House of Representatives have no interest in that.
This is the same group of people who brought us this Republican health care crisis that is devastating people across the country.
Please note. That in their one big ugly bill this year, the Republicans made the largest cuts to Medicaid in American history. 14 million Americans are on the brink of losing their health insurance. As a result, hospitals, nursing homes and community health centers are closing across the country.
Read on and watch Jeffries below.
