After moving hell and high water to give massive tax breaks to the rich and corporations via the OBBBA, Republicans now have a choice to make: shut down the government to end health care tax credits for Americans or fully extend tax credits to ensure that millions of people and small business owners nationwide won’t have to face skyrocketing health premiums next year.
“So far, the GOP priorities have been clear: If you’re a billionaire or corporation, Republicans will blow up the national debt and gut essential programs to give you a tax cut. If you’re a working parent or small business owner, they’ll shut down the government to block yours. But the people’s choice is clear: they want a tax system that works for them, which starts with extending the enhanced premium tax credits and keeping health care costs from rising,” said Kristen Crowell, Executive Director of Families Over Billionaires. “It’s not too late for our Federal lawmakers to choose to put the health and wellbeing of everyday Americans first.”
People from both sides of the aisle are speaking up across the country, saying stop health care costs from rising and more hospitals from closing. Here are a few highlights:
VIEW FROM THE STATES
PENNSYLVANIA
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28/22 News (Wilkes Barre) – Residents rally to protect the ACA Premium Tax Credits
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Scranton Times-Tribune – Rally in Scranton urges NEPA lawmakers to keep health care affordable
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Pittsburgh Tribune-Review – Pennsylvania Health Access Network, state officials call on feds to preserve tax credits that lower insurance costs
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Patriot News – Nurses, health care workers urge Sen. Fetterman to protect insurance premiums
ILLINOIS
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WLS (Chicago) – Community activists, lawmakers demand reopening of Uptown’s shuttered Weiss Hospital
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Journal Courier – Illinois marketplace premiums to rise average 28.8% amid loss of federal credits
MINNESOTA
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Rochester Post Bulletin – Outside Saint Marys hospital, demonstrators critique Mayo Clinic’s rural clinic closures
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MinnPost – 90,000 Minnesotans face big health insurance premium hikes without congressional action
NEW MEXICO
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Source NM – Democratic governors rally Congressional Republicans to extend health care tax credits
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Santa Fe New Mexican – Lujan Grisham: More than 27,000 New Mexicans could lose insurance if federal credits expire
KANSAS
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Kansas Reflector: Kansas governor says health care cuts will have ‘disastrous effects’ if Congress can’t reach deal
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Topeka Capital-Journal: What Obamacare tax credit at center of government shutdown issue means to Kansas
FLORIDA
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Florida Politics – Extend federal tax credits and keep working Floridians insured, conservatives say
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Florida Phoenix – ‘Conservatives’ rally for continuation of enhanced Obamacare premium credits
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Florida Hospital Association – CEO: Extend the ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits
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Florida Today (Brevard County) – With health coverage at risk, Florida groups step up pressure on GOP Congress
MAINE
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Maine Morning Star – Groups pressure Collins to extend health care subsidies. Collins says not yet.
ARIZONA
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Tuscon Sentinel – Az’s healthcare premiums set to soar on 2026 online marketplace, Southern Az Rep. Juan Ciscomani silent on rising healthcare premiums
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Arizona Mirror – Almost 400k Arizonans will pay more for health insurance if Republicans don’t extend credits
MICHIGAN
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Michigan Public – Advocates say MI health insurance premiums will rise by hundreds unless Congress extends tax credits
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Detroit News – Michigan Dems push extension of Obamacare tax subsidies in shutdown fight, GOP balks
RHODE ISLAND
