During the government shutdown, Republicans refused to negotiate with Democrats over the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies. Though the subsidies expire at the end of the year, Republicans insisted that the issue could wait until after the shutdown. Now the shutdown is long over, the GOP’s health care homework is due, and they’re panicking.
While Democrats did not secure an extension, their intense focus on ACA subsidies highlighted the fact that when they expire, premiums for tens of millions of people are going to skyrocket. Not only that, but health care premiums are rising even for those who get their insurance from their employer. But even as insurers notify Americans of looming premium hikes, the president is proposing and withdrawing multiple plans, and Republicans in Congress are still holding hearings on the topic.
Long before the shutdown, Republican pollsters warned that letting the subsidies expire would be a hammer blow to the GOP’s chances in next fall’s midterms. But while Republicans from swing districts are rightfully fearful of voter backlash, many other GOP lawmakers loathe the enhanced ACA subsidies. Trapped between conservative philosophy and political reality, the GOP would rather talk about almost any other issue.
We’ve been here many times before. Now, in the crunch moment, the administration and its supporters are scrambling.
This is a preview of Paul Waldman's latest column. Read the full column here.
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