Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Four House Republicans joined Democrats to sign a discharge petition to force a vote on an amendment extending enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies as part of Wednesday's planned vote on healthcare legislation.
The Republicans broke with House Speaker Mike Johnson, who said Tuesday he wouldn't call for a vote on an amendment. He said his decision rested on about a dozen Republicans in swing districts "fighting hard to make sure that they reduce costs for all of their constituents."
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York filed a discharge petition with all 214 Democrats and four Republicans in favor, NBC News reported. The four Republicans who signed on were Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Rob Bresnahan and Ryan Mackenzie, all of Pennsylvania, and Mike Lawler of New York.
A discharge petition allows lawmakers to bring a bill or amendment out of committee and onto the floor for a vote without a discharge from the committee. The legislation will likely receive a vote in the new year since members of Congress are leaving Washington, D.C., this week for winter break, CBS News reported.
Lawler reacted strongly to Johnson's decision Tuesday not to include an amendment that would extend enhanced subsidies, which was at the center of an impasse in the Senate that led to the six-week government shutdown this fall. He said he was "pissed for the American people."
