Fitzpatrick, Mackenzie, Bresnahan defy speaker Johnson to force vote on ACA subsidies
Breaking ranks with GOP leadership, Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-01), Ryan Mackenzie (R-07), and Rob Bresnahan (R-08) signed a discharge petition to force a House vote on the extension of Obamacare tax credits.
The petition, led by Democratic Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), calls for a straight three-year extension of the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies that are used by more than 20 million Americans.
Fitzpatrick became the first Republican to sign the petition with Mackenzie and Bresnahan providing the 217th and 218th signatures. The trio is among the most vulnerable in the House as the 2026 elections draw closer. According to The Cook Political Report, Mackenzie’s race is a toss-up, while Bresnahan and Fitzpatrick’s contests are “lean” and “likely” Republican, respectively.
The move comes after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other House leaders rejected attempts by Fitzpatrick, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) and other GOP moderates to seek a floor vote. Lawler provided the 216th signature, clearing the path for the two Keystone State Republicans to seal the deal.
Under House rules, no vote could happen until next month — after the subsidies expire — even if the petition is completed Wednesday.
“We have worked for months to craft a two-party solution to address these expiring healthcare credits,” Fitzpatrick said in a statement Wednesday. “Our only request was a Floor vote on this compromise, so that the American People’s voice could be heard on this issue. That request was rejected. … Unfortunately, it is House leadership themselves that have forced this outcome.”
“If this isn’t an indictment of the Speaker, I don’t know what is. He has failed this institution and his members,” one House Republican told Jake Sherman at Punchbowl News.
“Despite our months-long call for action, leadership on both sides of the aisle failed to work together to advance any bipartisan compromise, leaving this as the only way to protect the 28,000 people in my district from higher costs,” said Bresnahan. “Families in NEPA cannot afford to have the rug pulled out from under them. Doing nothing was not an option, and although this is not a bill I ever intended to support, it is the only option remaining.”
The U.S. Senate has already rejected what the discharge petition calls for: a 3-year clean ACA subsidy extension. Sen. John Fetterman voted “yes” to extend the enhancement of the health care premium tax credit, while Sen. Dave McCormick voted “no.”
Since it is unlikely that a revised bill would pass the Senate, this allows vulnerable Republicans to get their vote and give them the opportunity to counter political attacks that they let the subsidies expire. Although it is worth noting that Fitzpatrick, Mackenzie and Bresnahan joined the other seven members of the state’s GOP congressional delegation that voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill that did not include an extension of the ACA subsidies.
House Democrats are insisting that that Johnson bring the petition to the floor immediately.
“I am here and ready to vote on this discharge petition today,” said Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-06). “The House should not recess until we have taken this vote.”
Retiring Rep. Dwight Evans (D-03) said on social media “Don’t delay the inevitable – and don’t make 24 million Americans wait into January or longer – let’s do this NOW to save their health coverage and prevent gaps!”
Steve Ulrich is managing editor of Politics PA.
