Frustrated GOP moderates join Democrats to force Obamacare extension vote

Four House Republicans joined Democrats Wednesday to force a House vote on a straight three-year extension of the enhanced Obamacare tax credits that will expire Dec. 31, delivering a sharp rebuke to Speaker Mike Johnson and other GOP leaders.

Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Mike Lawler of New York, Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania and Ryan Mackenzie of Pennsylvania signed the discharge petition filed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — hours after House GOP leaders rejected attempts by Fitzpatrick and other Republican moderates to seek a floor vote on extending the subsidies used by more than 20 million Americans.

Fitzpatrick said in a late-night House Rules Committee meeting Tuesday that "the only thing worse than a clean extension ... would be expiration, and I would make that decision." Lawler added that "the only feasible path forward is a discharge petition" if GOP leader reject a floor vote.

Under House rules, a completed discharge petition is subject to a waiting period, meaning no vote could happen until next month. Johnson could choose to move sooner, but there are no plans to call up the three-year extension bill early, according to two people granted anonymity to describe internal GOP leadership conversations.

“We have worked for months to craft a two-party solution to address these expiring healthcare credits," Fitzpatrick said in a statement Wednesday. "Our only request was a Floor vote on this compromise, so that the American People’s voice could be heard on this issue. That request was rejected. ... Unfortunately, it is House leadership themselves that have forced this outcome.”

Jeffries told reporters Wednesday his discharge petition is "the most straightforward path to ensuring that tens of millions of Americans don't have their health care ripped away from them because of the expiration of the Affordable Care Act tax credits."

The bill, however, unlikely to advance in the Senate. While four GOP senators voted to advance a three-year extension alongside Democrats last week, the proposal fell short of the necessary 60 votes to proceed. Senate Majority Leader John Thune was dismissive when asked Monday if he would take up a similar bill if the House sent one over.

"If they just did what they did over here, which is a straight-up three-year extension, then no," he said. Asked the same question Wednesday, he said, "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Even if the Senate does not take up a House-passed extension, it could build pressure on Thune and Johnson to take action on some sort of extension when lawmakers return to Washington next month. Fitzpatrick is hosting some rank-and-file senators who have been exploring a health deal at a Problem Solvers Caucus meeting Wednesday in the Capitol.

Jordain Carney and Nicholas Wu contributed to this report.