House Republicans Clash Over Healthcare Subsidy Extension as Deadline Nears

By Sam Barron | Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 10:25 PM EST

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) announced he would proceed with his discharge petition to force a floor vote on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire this year.

Fitzpatrick, who represents a battleground district, rebuffed House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who sought an alternative by allowing a vote on an amendment of similar substance. Johnson stated he would support the bill if Fitzpatrick abandoned his discharge petition and secured a satisfactory offset for the amendment’s costs.

Johnson also indicated he intended to use Fitzpatrick’s proposed legislation—a two-year extension of “Obamacare” subsidies—as the foundation for a compromise amendment.

“I thought there was an agreement on the Fitzpatrick amendment and then they made different decisions,” Johnson told reporters. “There’s a real possibility they get a vote on it.”

Fitzpatrick, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), Jennifer Kiggans (R-Va.), and other moderate Republicans met with Johnson and his staff on Tuesday but left without reaching an agreement.

As the House Rules Committee prepares a narrow healthcare package backed by Republican leadership for floor consideration, centrist lawmakers have submitted more than five amendments seeking to extend subsidies or add tax deductions for health insurance premiums.

Other House Republicans are evaluating a three-year clean extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies proposed by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who is attempting to push through his own discharge petition.

Fitzpatrick has also met with the Problem Solvers Caucus and rank-and-file senators to discuss a healthcare deal.

Sam Barron has nearly two decades of experience covering politics, crime, and business.