This week, the U.S. House of Representatives did something extraordinary. Subsidies In a bid to rebrand and shake off the shadow of former President Donald Trump, they are bringing back popular subsidies in the ACA. Democrats are understandably focusing all their attacks on the “affordability crisis.” Perhaps more importantly politically, they view it as a key issue to their campaign strategy going into the midterm election in November.
Over the last few years, this “affordability crisis” has increasingly been recognized as a conflicting dominating concern—increasingly in the context of escalating healthcare costs. Democrats are advocating for the extension of tax credits, viewing them as an essential measure to alleviate financial burdens on everyday Americans. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “Today, there is an opportunity to take a meaningful step forward, lower the high cost of living for everyday Americans, particularly as it relates to healthcare.”
Unfortunately, the House of Representatives chose to extend these harmful subsidies. This step was one of the primary demands in the recent government shutdown that began in early October. The extended standoff emphasized the necessity of making the cost of healthcare a real public issue. Moderate Republicans would love to find a middle ground on this one. Still, the mood is tense, especially given that Trump has referred to worries about affordability a “hoax.”
Democrats are betting the affordability crisis will be central to their electoral fortunes in this fall’s midterms. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, remarked, “The affordability crisis is not a hoax; it is very real, despite what [Donald Trump] had to say.” This announcement makes clear the party’s intention to make addressing healthcare costs the top priority in their platform.
Through much of this year, as these conversations continued, Republican Members of Congress have expressed their own frustrations with rising healthcare costs. Likewise, incoming Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has signaled that his party wants to chart their own course with different proposals focused on reducing these costs. The details of these proposals are unclear as negotiations are still ongoing.
As Schumer has continued to push healthcare affordability as the centerpiece of the Democratic agenda. He issued a rousing challenge that Democrats make 2026 a referendum on healthcare and the cost of living. Otherwise, he hopes that these issues can become the top priority of the party. His remarks are an indication of a concerted effort to mobilize voters in this key battleground state over the life-and-death issue.
On the House side, there has been bipartisan support for reextending the tax credits, with different reasons. The alternative he was referring to was one of several options that were discussed before arriving and agreeing on a clean extension. Unfortunately, that House leadership rejected every one of those options, he said. This ultimately left us with one of two options: allow the program to expire or pursue a clean extension. Even a clean extension is a much better deal, as far as I’m concerned.
Mike Lawler expressed his support for the measure, indicating a willingness to collaborate across party lines: “I am voting in favor of this discharge and of this legislation to send it to the Senate, so that the Senate will have the opportunity to put forth a reform package that can pass Congress and become law.”
With the midterm elections fast approaching, both parties are trying to avoid the crisis of affordability hurting their electoral chances. This makes the broad transportation space the perfect issue for Democrats to use as a campaign/message cornerstone while at the same time forcing Republicans to present their own solutions. With healthcare costs affecting many American households, lawmakers are under increasing pressure to deliver tangible results.