"Four Republican lawmakers have signed onto a Democratic-led discharge petition, which aims to force a vote on a bill that would restore tax credits for millions of Americans who receive health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Those tax credits, initially instituted during the COVID-19 pandemic, allow for more people to access the program, insuring more Americans as a result."
"But a discharge petition, which under current rules requires 218 signatures, is a special parliamentary rule that allows lawmakers to bypass that block, to get an up-or-down vote on any bill that receives that level of support. After Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) indicated that he and Republican leaders would not advance a bill by the end of the year to address the looming ACA tax credit's expiration, four centrist Republicans signed onto a discharge petition to force a vote on a Democratic-sponsored bill."
"The bill would extend tax credits for qualifying Americans on marketplace health exchanges for three more years. Related Story ACA health exchange participants who receive a tax credit will see premium costs increase by 114 percent, on average. Those four Republicans are not 100 percent supportive of the bill in question, but appear to recognize it's a better option than doing nothing at all."
Millions of Americans face sharply higher health insurance costs if pandemic-era Affordable Care Act marketplace tax credits expire at the end of the year. The credits, created during the COVID-19 pandemic, expanded eligibility and reduced premiums for many people purchasing coverage on exchanges. A discharge petition, requiring 218 House signatures, can force an up-or-down vote to bypass House leadership. Four centrist Republicans signed a Democratic-led petition after the speaker indicated no end-of-year action. The Democratic bill would extend the credits for three years, and supporters say an extension is preferable to allowing premiums to spike.
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