Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Thursday he would not offer Democrats a House vote on extending expiring enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies as part of a deal to end the government shutdown.
Asked at a press conference if he could assure Democrats in the House that they would get a vote on extending the subsidies, Johnson said, “No, because we did our job, and I’m not part of the negotiation.”
“I’m not promising anybody anything. I’m going to let this process play out,” he continued.
Senate Democrats have repeatedly blocked a stopgap measure to reopen the government as they demand Republicans address their concerns on health care — namely, an extension of the subsidies. Plus-ups to the subsidies signed into law under former President Biden during the COVID-19 pandemic expire at the end of this year.
Republicans have said they will not negotiate on health care while the government is closed — and that the subsidies, if extended, would need significant reforms such as income caps.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) previously said he offered Senate Democrats a vote on extending the Affordable Care Act subsidies as part of a deal to end the shutdown, which he said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) rejected.
Such a vote is now again being considered as part of a potential developing deal with centrists in the Senate, but some Democrats have said they would need assurances about a vote in the House as well.
Live updates: FAA cuts flights; GOP worries as Democrats make gains in shutdown talks; Pelosi retires
Democrats’ confidence in shutdown strategy soars after election sweep
Senate Dem divide emerges as progressives warn against ending shutdown
“Yes, Leader Thune has bent over backwards, he’s offered them a vote. You know what they call them in response? ‘No. We need you to guarantee the outcome of that vote.’ Well, that’s ridiculous,” Johnson said.
“I tell you what they wanted; I’ll tell you what Schumer and [House Minority Leader Hakeem] Jeffries wanted. In fact, Chuck Schumer said it publicly, and decried that Thune and I would not go in a backroom with them and make a four corners agreement on ObamaCare subsidies,” Johnson said. “And I said there’s no way, that it was never possible or appropriate for that to be handled on a CR, on a short-term stopgap funding measure.
“He knows that, and we’re not doing that. We’re not taking four corners, four leaders in a backroo and making a deal, and hoisting upon the people. I’m not going to be a part of that,” Johnson said.
