Golden votes to lower health care costs by renewing ACA tax credits
Congressman will continue to lead bipartisan, bicameral efforts to prevent disastrous price spikes for tens of thousands of Mainers
WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today voted in favor of legislation to renew for three years an enhanced tax credit program that helps millions of Americans afford health insurance plans on state Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces. The bill passed 230-196, with 17 Republicans joining all Democrats in favor.
Despite bipartisan support to renew the credits, Republican leaders in Congress allowed the program to expire on January 1, sending premiums skyrocketing by an average of 114 percent for 22 million Americans who purchase insurance on the exchanges — an increase of more than $1,100 per month.
“Mainers work hard but despite all their efforts, the cost of living keeps going up. The last thing they need is for their health insurance premiums to double because politicians in D.C. can’t get their act together,” Golden said. “I have worked for months with a group of my Republican colleagues to build the bipartisan coalition needed to extend these credits, and today that work paid off. GOP leaders never should have let these credits expire, but this vote builds a strong foundation for a deal in the Senate to reduce health care costs for millions of Americans.”
While House Speaker Mike Johnson had refused to take up legislation to extend the credits last year, a majority of the House overruled him via discharge petition, leading to passage today of H.R. 1834, which would renew the credits through 2028.
Golden has been leading efforts across party lines to extend the enhanced ACA Premium Tax Credits since September. His focus has been on buildinga bipartisan solution capable of passing the Senate, where overcoming the filibuster requires significant buy-in from Republicans.
While the clean three-year extension is unlikely to pass the Senate as-is, H.R. 1834 provides Senators with a vehicle to take up a negotiated, bipartisan proposal to extend the Enhanced ACA Premium Tax Credits.
As he has for weeks, Congressman Golden will continue his bipartisan, bicameral work to craft a compromise package that protects Mainers from disastrous price spikes. This morning, he joined other members of the House’s bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus for a meeting with lead Senate negotiators who are working to put together a bill capable of passage.
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