Chaos broke out Wednesday on the House floor after Republicans shut down a vote on discharge petition to extend expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits.
Four moderate Republicans signed on to the discharge petition Wednesday circulated by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to force a vote on on the measure, which would extend the tax credits for three years, but House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) ended the voting before it was completed.
"Crazy scenes going on in the house floor," reported Reese Gorman for NOTUS. "The chair just closed the vote on ordering the previous question when it was at 204-203. Some democrats hadn’t voted yet and were trying to vote no. They are livid rn and shouting at the chair."
The Washington Post's Marianna Sotomayor blamed the "mess" on Johnson's decision to not allow moderates an amendment vote last week on subsidies.
"The House floor is just exploding right now after Republicans -- frantic they would lose a procedural hurdle that would force a vote on a Dem discharge petition -- closed the vote early," Sotomayor reported. "Rs really are playing with the floor right now in ways that's not usual. They're nervous."
The Republican signers – Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Rob Bresnahan (R-PA) and Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) – joined all 214 Democrats in signing the petition, which is the first step to forcing a House vote on the legislation.
“Leadership left us no choice,” Lawler told reporters after signing. “From my perspective, this issue is too important to fuck around with. You have people’s health care at stake, and it requires a vote. Ultimately, this will pass the House, and I bet you there will be a lot more people voting for it than you expect.”