Name: Lawmakers leave Washington without healthcare action
Uploaded: 2025-11-21T19:54:46.860Z
Duration: 2 min 11 s
Description: Congress left for Thanksgiving without extending ACA subsidies that help millions afford insurance. A December vote is uncertain as Republicans demand changes to the law. Recent polling shows Democrats leading by 14 points on generic ballot as healthcare costs remain a top concern.

Congress left for Thanksgiving without extending ACA subsidies that help millions afford insurance. A December vote is uncertain as Republicans demand changes to the law. Recent polling shows Democrats leading by 14 points on generic ballot as healthcare costs remain a top concern.

Washington

Lawmakers in Washington have adjourned without reaching an agreement on extending healthcare subsidies, leaving the issue unresolved as the expiration date approaches. While the Senate is expected to vote on the matter in December, the outcome remains uncertain, and there is no guarantee the House will take up the extension, with some moderate Republicans demanding changes to the existing law.

The debate over healthcare policy is taking place against the backdrop of the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, with recent polls showing Democrats holding a significant advantage. Additional political developments, such as a federal court decision on Texas congressional maps and Democratic efforts in California, could further impact control of the House of Representatives. It is unclear if affordable healthcare will be addressed when lawmakers return.

Lawmakers leave Washington without healthcare action

When Senators return in December, they're expected to take a vote during the first half of the month on extending those subsidies, but it's not clear that vote will succeed. Over in the House of Representatives, there's no guarantee a vote will take place to extend the credits at all, as even some moderate Republicans have called for changes to the law to earn their support for an extension. I wouldn't sign on just a plain extension. Hakeem Jeffries can't do my way or the highway on this thing. This thing got passed without a single Republican vote to begin with. As the expiration of the subsidies inches closer, along with the 2026 midterm elections, some Republicans are sounding the alarm on Capitol Hill. Republican Congressman Byron Donalds is running for governor of Florida next year with President Trump's endorsement. I think Republicans need to have a health care strategy and not just say that Obamacare is broken, although it's very broken, and that's what's causing some of the affordability crisis hurting the American people are Democrat policies like health care policies. So we have some room to work on that as well. And polls showing Democrats may enjoy a significant advantage in next year's elections. According to an NPR-PBS-Marist poll earlier this week, Democrats are favored on the generic ballot by 14 points among registered voters, their best numbers in three years. Fifty-seven percent of the respondents to that poll saying they believe that lowering prices should be the Trump administration's top priority ahead of next year. Another boost this week for the minority party, a federal court's decision to toss out new congressional maps in Texas. Though the ruling is pending an appeal from the U.S. Supreme Court, Democrats' moves in California to pad their margins, plus positive polling, means they could take control of the House of Representatives next year. Are Democrats nationally feeling pretty good about taking back the House of Representatives? I think what you're seeing is a massive blue wave building for this election. Republicans are deeply concerned about the direction of the country, especially in the spiraling upward of prices for everyday items, electricity, food. It's not clear if the issue of affordable health care will be addressed in December, as Republican lawmakers debate the best path forward to bring costs down. Nathaniel Reed, Scripps News Group, Washington.

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