WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — Rep. Jim Jordan said he will only support extending Affordable Care Act subsidies if Congress passes comprehensive reforms that increase choice and competition across the health care system, breaking with some Republicans who favor a simple extension.
The Ohio Republican and House Judiciary Committee chairman told NewsNation on Monday that he has never voted for Obamacare provisions and doesn’t plan to start unless reforms benefit all Americans, not just those receiving enhanced tax credits.
“If we do real reform, reform that increases choice and competition … we do something short-term for the expanded tax credit in the Affordable Care Act, I’m willing to go for that package,” Jordan said. “But if it’s just the Affordable Care extension, no way.”
Jordan criticized the original ACA promises, saying Democrats told Americans they could keep their plans and doctors while premiums would decrease. He said those promises “turned out to be false” and the system is now “falling apart.”
The congressman argued that subsidies drive up prices while choice and competition bring them down. He said Republicans should “tell the truth” about Obamacare’s failures and fix the system properly rather than continue enhanced subsidies to insurance companies.
Jordan’s position puts him at odds with some in his party ahead of a House vote this week on extending the subsidies. Only about 3% of his district and 4% of Ohio rely on ACA subsidies, roughly half the national average.
When pressed about Republican efforts to undermine the ACA, including eliminating the individual mandate, Jordan maintained his criticism of the law’s structure, particularly requirements that all policies include comprehensive coverage regardless of policyholder needs.
Jordan said President Donald Trump emphasized to lawmakers not to give enhanced funding to insurance companies but rather to give it to Americans and let them exercise choice.
The congressman said Republicans would campaign on what they’ve accomplished while reminding voters of “how crazy the left is” on various issues.
GOP lawmakers returning to Capitol Hill are facing a health care bind, with ACA subsidies having expired Dec. 31, and no clear path forward for extending them.
GOP faces health care bind with subsidies expired
The GOP remains split over whether to extend the subsidies at all. But last month, four Republican centrists, frustrated with party leadership, joined Democrats in backing a discharge petition on legislation to extend the subsidies for three years.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters in December he plans to bring the bill to the floor this week. It is expected to pass and head to the Senate, where it will likely undergo bipartisan reform to get the necessary 60 votes to advance.
“I think a straight-up extension is a waste of money,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said before the recess. “But if there are reforms and both sides sit down and agree on what that looks like and then there’s a transition that gives people the option of putting money into a [health savings account] … then there could be a path forward.”
But lawmakers are still racing against the clock.
The government funding deadline is Jan. 31. And Democrats aren’t afraid to play hardball.
If the health care issue isn’t resolved by then, they could potentially use a funding deal as leverage to press for an extension of the subsidies. In October, Democrats in both chambers refused to support a Republican spending package, largely because it didn’t address the ACA subsidies. The impasse shuttered much of the government for 43 days, the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
NewsNation partner The Hill contributed to this report.