Donald Trump appears poised to announce a two-year extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies, due to expire at the end of December, while setting new limits on who is eligible to receive the tax credits, according to reports.
Without an extension of Covid-19-era Obamacare subsidies, insurance premiums for nearly 22 million American citizens threaten to more than double early next year, a point made repeatedly by Democrats during the recent 43-day government shutdown, who refused to sign a stopgap spending bill that did not address the problem.
This is him extending his power. The president does not legally control the power of the purse. Congress does. The president can’t legally do this. Choosing a popular position with the citizens, and one Democrats can’t argue against without looking bad, gives him the clear to do this. Once it’s done once they can point back to it and ask why no one thought it was wrong this time.
You’re absolutely right and if the repugs were smart they’d oppose this. Because this sets precedent that can be used by both sides so the dems could do the same thing. Well if there are ever more elections….
Dems will vote for the tax credit expansion but I wonder if he will actually be able to drum up support from republicans. Because despite his acting like he can make this happen the purse string are still controlled by congress and the GOP isn’t as worried about their legacy as he might be.