Congressional Republicans don\u2019t appear to have a unified plan to deal with the looming ObamaCare subsidy cliff and have shown little urgency in finding one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Without legislation to extend the enhanced subsidies beyond this calendar year, ObamaCare health plans will be substantially more expensive<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Senate Majority Leader John Thune\u2002<\/u><\/a>(R-S.D.) said he\u2019s offered Democrats a vote on the enhanced subsidies if they support the GOP continuing resolution<\/strong> to fund the government\u2014an indication that he\u2019s at least open to the idea of an extension. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Democrats, though, argue that merely agreeing to hold a vote on the subsidies after the government reopens is not enough to ensure Republicans keep their word and engage in good-faith negotiations<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But on the House side, GOP leaders aren\u2019t directly talking about the subsidies. Instead, they are talking about changing the entire health system<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When asked about a plan to address the anticipated premium spike, Speaker Mike Johnson\u2002<\/u><\/a>(R-La.) said on Monday that the subsidies mask a broken system and that Republicans are committed to making health care better and more affordable for Americans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe expiring ObamaCare subsidy at the end of the year is a serious problem,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cIf you look at it objectively, you know that it is subsidizing bad policy. We\u2019re throwing good money at a bad, broken system, and so it needs real reforms.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n