GOP Rep. Kiley reiterates support for temporary ACA subsidy extension as House readies separate vote on GOP plan
Moderate House Republicans have filed discharge petitions led by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Josh Gottheimer to force floor votes on one‑ and two‑year extensions of enhanced ACA subsidies, drawing about 11 GOP signers and backing from lawmakers such as Mike Lawler, Don Bacon and Ryan Mackenzie — and Rep. Kevin Kiley has signed both petitions. Kiley told NPR he supports a temporary extension, called Speaker Mike Johnson’s competing subsidy‑free plan “hastily thrown together,” and warned that subsidy users shouldn’t “pay the price for congressional inaction” as the House prepares to vote this week on the GOP plan.
📌 Key Facts
- House moderates led by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick filed a discharge petition to force a floor vote to extend enhanced ACA subsidies; Rep. Josh Gottheimer has a separate one‑year discharge petition on the same issue.
- The petitions began with a small initial group (reported as six House Republicans and two Democrats) and expanded — by Dec. 12 each of the two petitions had drawn about 11 Republican signers.
- Named GOP signatories include Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Mike Lawler, Don Bacon and Ryan Mackenzie; some moderates say leadership likely will not bless the effort but argue a temporary extension paired with reforms is needed.
- The filing by moderates followed tense floor maneuvers in which some moderates briefly withheld votes, signaling intra‑party dissension over how to handle the subsidy cliff.
- Rep. Kevin Kiley says he signed both discharge petitions, criticized the lack of a clear path before the subsidy deadline, and urged a temporary extension — calling the Speaker’s competing plan 'hastily thrown together.'
- House leadership is backing a separate GOP plan that omits the ACA subsidy extension; NPR reported the House was set to vote on that plan this week, while Speaker Mike Johnson said he met with faction leaders ('five families') and expects to rally support for a vote next week.
- Moderates emphasize avoiding harm to subsidy recipients and insist on at least a temporary extension so ACA users do not 'pay the price for congressional inaction.'
📰 Sources (4)
GOP Rep. says ACA subsidy users shouldn't 'pay the price for congressional inaction'
New information:
- Rep. Kevin Kiley, in an NPR interview, urges a temporary extension and calls the Speaker’s competing plan 'hastily thrown together.'
- Confirms the House is set to vote this week on a plan that omits the ACA subsidy extension.
Johnson's grip on the House slips as Republicans defy leadership
New information:
- Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick’s two‑year ACA subsidy extension discharge petition has 11 Republican signers as of Friday.
- Rep. Josh Gottheimer’s one‑year ACA subsidy extension discharge petition also has 11 Republican signers.
- Rep. Kevin Kiley says he signed both ACA petitions and criticized the lack of a clear path before the deadline.
- Speaker Mike Johnson met with faction leaders ('five families') and says he expects to rally around a plan for a vote next week.
Moderate Republicans buck leadership with bid to force vote on Obamacare subsidies as premium cliff looms
New information:
- House moderates led by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick filed a discharge petition to force a floor vote on extending enhanced ACA subsidies.
- Initial support: six House Republicans and two Democrats have signed the petition, with backers expecting more signatures.
- Named GOP signatories include Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Mike Lawler, Don Bacon, and Ryan Mackenzie.
- Rep. Don Bacon said leadership likely will not bless the effort but argued a temporary extension with reforms is needed.
- The filing followed tense floor maneuvers in which some moderates briefly withheld votes on an unrelated bill.