House Passes Bill to Extend ACA Subsidies, Kiley Votes No

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives has adopted legislation to extend federal subsidies for health insurance purchased through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, for three years. The measure passed on January 8 by a vote of 230 to 196, with all Democrats and 17 Republicans, including California District 22 Representative David Valadao, voting in favor. The rest of California’s Republican House delegation, including District 3 Representative Kevin Kiley, voted against the bill.

Kiley’s vote against the measure came despite his previous statements emphasizing the need for Congress to act to prevent major increases in health insurance costs that will result from allowing the subsidies to expire. Kiley’s recent emails to constituents have highlighted calls for bipartisan action to prevent the increases, which he called “unacceptable” in one email. Kiley has made similar calls for action in media interviews with CNN, PBS, and other outlets. And in December, he joined Congressman Sam Liccardo, a Democrat representing California District 16, in introducing bipartisan legislation to extend tax credits for ACA insurance premiums for two years and signed on as a cosponsor of a related bipartisan bill introduced by other members. Kiley blamed House leadership for failing to advance either bill to a vote. To date, Congressman Kiley has not issued an official statement explaining his apparent reversal on addressing the expiring ACA subsidies.

The measure adopted by the House is seen as unlikely to pass the Senate in its current form. A bipartisan group of Senators is said to be working on a compromise that could be acceptable to both sides, however. President Trump has not had a major role in the current debate so far, but has previously criticized the ACA.