NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, RS.D., all but drove a nail into the Senate’s coffin trying to address health care in 2025 today.
“We won’t do anything at the end of this week. But I think something might happen in January,” said Thune.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has ruled out a GOP moderator’s proposal for a temporary extension of expiring Obamacare subsidies because it did not comply with congressional budget rules.
KENNEDY URGES GOP TO RESTART WAR SPENDING AMID HIGH COST OF LIVING, WARNS OF TOO SPENDING.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said it could be a “potential way” to address health care in January 2026. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
But this afternoon, Johnson has withdrawn and is willing to entertain a plan from Rep. Nick LaLota, RN.Y.
Rather than simply extending the subsidy temporarily, which means insurance companies get the money, LaLota’s plan provides a two-year tax deduction for Obamacare recipients.
MODERATE REPUBLICAN SLAMS HOUSE GOP LEADERS, SAYS OBAMACARE VOTE ‘UNCERTAIN BULL—-‘
President Trump has said he will not sign a bill that continues to send money to insurance companies. Therefore, the LaLota method cuts the insurance companies out of the equation, and policyholders receive a tax credit.
Rep. Nick LaLota, RN.Y., has proposed a plan that would provide a two-year tax deduction for Obamacare recipients. (Patrick Semansky/AP Photo, File)
LaLota and others are expected to present their plan to the House Rules Committee later today. It is believed that Johnson and the legislative team will block the old funding renewal program. But Johnson said “they might vote on it.”
SENATE REPUBLICANS INTRODUCE PLAN TO MATCH OBAMACARE COSTS IN HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
That said, the vote is far from a guarantee of a fix. Nor is it certain that the House will accept the amendment and copy it into the GOP’s basic health care bill.
The House is expected to discuss and vote on a bill tomorrow that would allow for “federal” health care plans. That would allow groups of people to pool their money together to buy insurance plans, and, presumably, save money.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., appeared skeptical that lawmakers would deal with the premiums. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)
Some allies from swing states are not satisfied and are worried about the political consequences during the 2026 midterms if Republicans fail to address health care.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., appeared skeptical that Congress would deal with ex post facto premium increases in 2026.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
“You can’t do it after Jan. 1,” Schumer said. “We’re out of date. We’re not what we used to be. When we’re out of date, the toothpaste is out of the tube.”
And today, Schumer refused to commit to Democrats using the same tactics on health care to defeat Republicans as the next federal funding deadline approaches Jan. 30.
