Graham Signals Republican Opposition to Obamacare Tax Credit Extension, Calls for Bipartisan Talks – But Not During Shutdown
Washington D.C. – Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) publicly affirmed Republican resistance to extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, following a call from former President Trump to overhaul “Obamacare” posted on his Truth Social platform Saturday. Graham stated unequivocally that Republicans will not support a continuation of the current tax credit program.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Graham argued that extending the credits would be detrimental to taxpayers and perpetuate a “healthcare system that’s out of control.” He further claimed the program disproportionately benefits health insurance companies. “We’re not going to do that,” Graham declared. “We’re going to replace this broken system with something that is actually better for the consumer to meet the goal of lowering health care costs.”
While firmly opposing an extension of the existing credits, Graham indicated a willingness from Republicans – and the former President – to engage in bipartisan discussions. He dismissed attempts to pressure the party through public concern, stating, “Terrorizing the public is not going to get us…to continue a very bad health care bill.” However, he stressed that any potential compromise requires a fundamental restructuring of the ACA.
Graham praised trump’s renewed focus on healthcare reform, saying the former President had “given us a pathway forward.” He revealed he had spoken with Trump earlier Saturday, and that Trump expressed a desire to collaborate on a new solution.
Crucially, Graham tied any progress on healthcare reform to the resolution of the current government shutdown. “I know we can [find a solution], but we’re not going to do it while the government’s shut down,” he stated. He directly appealed to Democratic colleagues to “end this madness” and “open up the government and act like adults” to address the healthcare issue constructively. “We’ll never do it with the government shut down,” he concluded.
