Republicans defy Speaker, join Democrats to force vote on extending Obamacare subsidies
Democrats led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York needed 218 signatures to force a floor vote on their bill, which would extend the subsides for three years.
December 17, 2025 10:55 PM IST
First published on: Dec 17, 2025 at 10:51 PM IST
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Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., meets with reporters as Republicans struggle with a plan to address growing health care costs, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
In a major embarrassment to the Donald Trump administration and House Speaker Mike Johnson, four centrist Republicans broke ranks and signed a Democratic-led petition that will force a vote on extending health care subsidies.
Vote on extending heath care subsidies
The stunning move comes after House Republican leaders pushed ahead with a health care bill that does not address the soaring monthly premiums that millions of people will soon endure when the tax credits for those who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act expire at year’s end.
Democrats led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York needed 218 signatures to force a floor vote on their bill, which would extend the subsides for three years.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick is framed by Rep. Brett Guthrie, and Rep. Jason Smith, as the House Rules Committee meets to prepare Republican legislation to address health care affordability. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Four Republicans sign Democratic petition
Four Republicans, Brian Fitzpatrick, Robert Bresnahan and Ryan Mackenzie, all from Pennsylvania, and Mike Lawler of New York, signed the petition, leaving Johnson with little option.
“Unfortunately, it is House leadership themselves that have forced this outcome.” Fitzpatrick said in a statement.
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A vote on the subsidy bill could come as soon as January under House rules.
What Johnson said
When asked if he’s lost control of the House, Johnson said, no.
“I have not lost control of the House,” Johnson said.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, leaves a news conference as Republicans struggle with a plan to address growing health care costs. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
He, however, noted that Republicans have a razor-thin majority that allows a small number of members to employ procedures that would not normally be successful in getting around leadership.
“These are not normal times,” he remarked.
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The Republican ‘revolt’, though stunning, was not entirely surprising as many Representatives, especially those seeking re-election in the mid-term elections in 2026, have been concerned about the voter reaction if healthcare premiums go up massively starting in January.
Even if the subsidy bill were to pass the House, which is far from assured, it would face an arduous climb in the Republican-led Senate. Republicans last week voted down a three-year extension of the subsidies and proposed an alternative that also failed.
Johnson had earlier discussed allowing more politically vulnerable GOP lawmakers a chance to vote on bills that would temporarily extend the subsidies while also adding changes such as income caps for beneficiaries.
But after days of discussions, the leadership sided with the more conservative wing of the party’s conference, which has assailed the subsidies as propping up a failed marketplace through the ACA, which is widely known as “Obamacare.”
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House Republicans pushed ahead Wednesday a 100-plus-page health care package without the subsidies, instead focusing on long-sought GOP proposals designed to expand insurance coverage options for small businesses and the self-employed.
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Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., meets with reporters as Republicans struggle with a plan to address growing health care costs, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) 
