House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Friday rejected as “ridiculous” accusations that Democrats want to lapse crucial Obamacare subsidies to deal a political blow to Republicans.
“Shame on you,” Jeffries, N.Y., at one point pushed back on that idea during a heated exchange with CNBC’s Becky Quick on “Squawk Box.”
The clash comes with less than six weeks until those subsidies, enhanced tax credits under the Affordable Care Act that reduce health insurance premiums for millions of enrollees, are set to expire.
Quick questioned why House Democrats are seeking a three-year extension of the aid, which Republicans likely won’t support, rather than a one- or two-year deal that some people support.
When Jeffries mentioned Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York’s proposal to extend tax credits for one year during the government shutdown, Quick interjected, urging him not to “go back to the past.”
Jeffries said it provides necessary context: “Republicans have repeatedly refused to take yes for an answer.”
Quick responded, “That’s important context for me to understand that you don’t want to get a deal done. I think this is that you want to see rate hikes so that Republicans can get away with it.”
Jeffries shot back: “That’s an absolutely ridiculous claim…I’m embarrassed to have said that.”
“This is not a partisan issue for us. In fact, the states most affected related to the expiration of the Affordable Care Act tax credits are all Republican states.”
The fight over tax credits was at the center of a 43-day government shutdown that ended last week without a clear resolution regarding health care.
Democrats had wanted a permanent extension of loans imposed under the Biden administration during the coronavirus pandemic and had refused to agree to provide funding to the government without that guarantee.
Republicans, who hold slim majorities in the House and Senate and have long criticized Obamacare, have said they also want to tackle health care policy. But they were hesitant to negotiate without first reopening the government.
“Republicans have said in the House that they are ready to take on the Affordable Care Act tax credit issue after they reach a government funding agreement,” Jeffries said on CNBC. “Well, the government shutdown is now over, but there have been no conversations with House Republican leadership yet.”
The funding deal, ultimately signed by President Donald Trump, garnered enough Democratic support to pass the Senate, but only guaranteed that the Senate would vote on the Democratic-chosen bill in December.
If the bill passes, there is no guarantee that Senate Republicans will support it or that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will take it up.
