Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday sharply criticized Republicans after the GOP blocked a Democratic proposal to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits set to expire at the end of the year-credits that millions of Americans rely on to keep monthly insurance premiums affordable.
Speaking alongside Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Schumer said Republicans “shoved the American people off the side of a cliff” by rejecting what Democrats described as a clean, straightforward extension designed to prevent sharp premium increases beginning January 1.
According to Schumer, Democrats attempted to pass extensions 13 times throughout the year, ranging from one- to three-year proposals. All were blocked by Republicans. The plan Democrats brought to the floor Tuesday secured a bipartisan majority but still failed to advance under Senate rules.
Republicans, he said, offered their own late-stage alternative, a package Democrats dismissed as a “junk insurance” plan that weakened coverage protections while providing giveaways to insurers. That proposal also failed to pass.
“With today’s vote, Republicans now own America’s healthcare crisis,” Schumer said, warning that families could see premiums “double or triple” in the new year. He described personal conversations with constituents fearful of losing access to cancer treatment, long-term care, or established medical providers if prices spike.
Schumer argued Republicans will now have to “go back home and tell people over the holidays” that they voted in a way that will raise costs and potentially push people off coverage. “Are they going to tell their constituents they voted to double their monthly premiums?” he said.
Democrats say they will continue pursuing measures to lower healthcare costs as January approaches, but with no extension in place, they warn the burden will fall directly on millions of Americans when insurers begin issuing updated billing statements next month.
“The suffering people will face is enormous and heart-wrenching,” Schumer said. “January 1st is coming. Republicans are responsible for what happens next.”
Senator Klobuchar followed Schumer’s remarks with additional criticism of the failed GOP proposal and reiterated Democrats’ commitment to restoring the expiring credits.
