Bipartisan group discusses using discharged House bill for compromise health plan

A bipartisan group of moderate lawmakers privately strategized Wednesday about how to pass an extension of expiring Obamacare subsidies early next year — possibly by using a newly discharged House bill as a vehicle for a Senate-backed bipartisan compromise.

The closed-door discussion among House and Senate members about amending the discharged measure was described by four people who were granted anonymity to comment on the sensitive negotiations. It took place at a Capitol Hill meeting hosted by the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, whose members have spent weeks exploring possible compromises to extend the subsidies past Dec. 31.

The effort hit a wall this week, after talks with Speaker Mike Johnson to get a floor vote on a compromise extension proposal failed. Four of them, including Problem Solvers Co-chair Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), broke ranks Wednesday and completed a discharge petition led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Not all members of the Problem Solvers coalition are convinced that amending the Jeffries-backed bill — a straight three-year extension of the enhanced subsidies enacted under former President Joe Biden — would be the most viable proposal.

Some Democrats privately noted that the three-year extension is already drafted and has support from a majority of House and Senate lawmakers. They also pointed out that other subsidy extension proposals, which include new eligibility limitations and anti-fraud measures, have less support in the House.

But Republicans involved in the talks argue the three-year extension won’t be able to pass the Senate — it fell short of the necessary 60 votes last week — and are trying to rally support behind a compromise proposal that could pick up additional GOP support. In any case, no action is expected before Congress adjourns for the year.

"They're going to have to put something on the floor,” Fitzpatrick said of the Senate in an interview. “We're going to send them a vehicle. … I mean, that was the whole point of the meeting with the senators."

Senators who attended included Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Angus King (I-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio).

Moreno, who has put forward his own compromise proposal with Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), said the group was talking in “good faith” and “working together to get something done.”

Some lawmakers in the meeting suggested that a deal could encompass more than proposals to extend the enhanced premium tax credits. Republicans have also endorsed ideas to expand tax-advantaged health savings accounts and make it easier for small businesses to create insurance plans.

“The talks about what we might be able to come together around included other provisions, and I’m not going to get into any of those details,” said Shaheen, one of the lead Senate Democratic negotiators.

Mia McCarthy contributed to this report.