House to vote on GOP health care bill as Congress makes year-end sprint

GOP moderates clashed with House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday over the lack of a plan to address the expiring tax credits.

Moderates are perplexed at the decision to not hold a vote on an extension ahead of the Dec. 31 deadline, and have warned of the political ramifications of allowing insurance premiums to soar for more than 20 million Americans.

“I am pissed for the American people. This is absolute bulls–t,” Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York told reporters after leaving a GOP conference meeting Tuesday morning. 

Lawler called it a “tremendous mistake” to not address the expiring tax credits. 

“The Democrats want to use this as an issue in the election, and seemingly the Republican leadership is going to allow them to do it. And it’s idiotic,” he said. 

Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said at his weekly news conference that there would not be a vote this week on an extension. The decision was a reversal from Friday, when a leadership aide said an amendment vote would be allowed.

“We looked for a way to try to allow for that pressure-release valve, and it just was not to be. We worked on it all the way through the weekend,” Johnson said, adding that ultimately “an agreement wasn’t made.” 

Later Tuesday, a meeting with moderates and Johnson appeared to get heated, though the speaker downplayed it as “collegial.” 

“We’re all trying to solve very complicated questions and challenges, and sometimes there’s frustration with the process,” he said.