They’ll use a procedural maneuver to put Republicans in a tough spot.
House Democrats will take steps to force a vote on a three-year extension of expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits after Republicans refused to address the issue as part of a bipartisan Senate deal to reopen the federal government.
House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) announced in a closed-door caucus meeting Wednesday that leadership would pursue the extension through a procedural move known as a discharge petition, according to five people granted anonymity to share private party strategy.
This maneuver would allow rank-and-file members to bypass GOP leadership and compel a vote on the House floor on underlying legislation if the discharge petition can get 218 signatures. While the tactic is rarely successful, Democrats hope to pressure swing district Republicans to lend their support.
Democrats made the subsidies a focus of their government shutdown demands, but the House is poised to clear a bill to end the shutdown Wednesday night without provisions to avoid a Dec. 31 sunset date.
It’s not clear whether a discharge petition could succeed in time to lower health care premiums set to increase next month short of legislative action; 30 legislative days must pass after a bill is introduced before a petition can be filed to bring it to the floor for a vote.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) will lay the groundwork for the legislative effort Wednesday afternoon, according to two of the people.