House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington on Nov. 3, 2025. (Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images)
The three-year window for the proposed extension coincides with the duration of President Donald Trump’s second term, which ends in 2028.
In response to the plan, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said the discharge effort was an ill-conceived attempt to give a new lease on life to a program that was always supposed to be temporary.
"There’s a reason Democrats set these inefficient subsidies to expire. COVID ended — it’s time these insurance company credits do, too. Republicans have real solutions to lower premiums for hardworking families, and they don't include bailing out insurance companies that are increasing prices," Scalise said.
The whip also slammed the high health insurance costs that the Obamacare tax credits subsidize.
"Democrats created the healthcare mess with Obamacare that has resulted in 80% increases in premiums. Now their only solution to those skyrocketing premium increases is to bail out insurance companies with billions in taxpayer subsidies. These COVID subsidies are rife with waste, fraud and abuse," Scalise said.
MODERATE DEM UNDERCUTS JEFFRIES ON OBAMACARE COMPROMISE AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN WEARS ON
Rep. Rosa DeLauro speaks to members of the media following a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 15, 2025. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Republicans rejected the one-year extension proposal.
Rep. Melanie Stansburry, D-N.M., said Democrats had upped their demands when it became clear Republicans wouldn’t agree to a shorter timeline.
"What I can say is that the original negotiating position of Democrats in the House and Senate had been a two-year extension that was obviously rejected," Stansbury said. "I certainly support it and will be signing it."
In the event the discharge petition collects the needed 218 votes, it’s unclear when it will reach the floor for consideration.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The House of Representatives will entertain funding legislation on Wednesday night that would end the ongoing, 43-day shutdown.
Leo Briceno is a politics reporter for the congressional team at Fox News Digital. He was previously a reporter with World Magazine.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dems-pull-out-all-stops-keep-obamacare-subsidies-fight-alive-after-vote-reopen-government