House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) defended himself Thursday Opposition to one year extension Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, a proposal supported by a handful of moderate Republicans as part of an effort to reopen the government.
In an interview on “CNN News Central,” the Democratic leader said the short-term proposal “also does not have the support of House Republican leadership, who have refused to address the issue of expanding the Affordable Care Act tax credits.”
“Our view is that we need a meaningful response to address the Republican health care crisis, not just a Band-Aid solution that even the Republican leadership in the House and Senate do not support right now,” Jefferies said.
The Democratic leader has pushed for the Obamacare tax credit, which is set to expire at the end of the year, to be made permanent before agreeing to give Democratic support to a GOP proposal to reopen the government.
On Tuesday, Jeffries rejected a one-year extension proposed by Representative Jane Kiggans (R-VA), calling the legislation a “non-starter” and a “laughable proposal.”
He said President Trump and Republicans earlier this year embraced a permanent expansion of tax cuts for the nation’s wealthiest and said they should do the same for working-class Americans, who benefit heavily from increased ACA subsidies.
“What world are these MAGA extremists living in right now that think the Democrats are going to go along with a one-year extension from a group of people, meaning Republicans, who have permanently extended massive tax breaks for their billionaire donors?” Jeffries told reporters at the Capitol on Tuesday.
The leader said, “This is a ridiculous proposal. It makes no sense.” “The Democratic position is clear: permanent expansion, and let’s move forward from there.”
But on Thursday he suggested he was willing to negotiate an extension on the subsidies, as long as Republicans came to the table.
When Jeffries was asked if his position on ACA subsidies was “If they are not made permanent, you will not change your position on the shutdown?”
“No,” Jeffries replied. “What I’m suggesting is that we need to have a meaningful bipartisan discussion.”
He added, “As is clear in the legislation we introduced, our position is a permanent extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credit.” “But we stand ready to negotiate in good faith to address this Republican health care crisis.”
However, he stressed his position that working-class Americans should receive the same tax breaks that wealthy Americans received earlier this year.
“And so the question arises, isn’t it fair for working-class Americans, for middle-class Americans, for everyday Americans who are facing the prospect of dramatically increased premiums, co-pays and deductibles – we’re talking about thousands of dollars in additional health care costs per year – isn’t it fair for them to have the same level of certainty in their lives?”
