Accountancy Slice

North America

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has ruled out allowing a House vote to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year, despite pressure from moderate Republicans in swing districts. Those lawmakers had sought a vote to show constituents they were trying to prevent higher insurance premiums for millions of Americans starting January 1st. After initially signaling openness to debate, Mr. Johnson said Republicans could not agree on key details of an extension, including how to pay for it and whether abortion restrictions should apply. The House Rules Committee ultimately rejected the moderates’ proposal, clearing the way instead for a narrow Republican health care bill that allows the subsidies to lapse while making limited cost-focused changes. The decision angered centrist Republicans, some of whom called it “political malpractice,” and highlighted deep GOP divisions over health care policy. According to the Congressional Budget Office, failing to extend the subsidies could leave about 2m more Americans uninsured next year. With time running out before the end of the year, attention is shifting to potential Senate efforts in early 2026 to revive the subsidies through a bipartisan deal.