Rep. Jody Arrington opposes extending COVID-era ACA premium subsidies, urges reconciliation fixes

Rep. Jody Arrington, a Texas Republican and chair of the House budget committee, said he opposes making the COVID-era premium subsidies to the Affordable Care Act permanent and urged his GOP colleagues to pursue health-care changes through budget reconciliation.

"Absolutely not," Arrington said when asked whether the subsidies should be extended or made permanent. He argued that the subsidies were designed to expire after the COVID-19 emergency and said watchdog groups have reported "tens of billions in fraud" and "millions of people who are on the program ineligibly." He added that the program at times "[subsidizes] people making hundreds of thousands of dollars."

Arrington said Republicans have alternatives they can pursue through reconciliation, a process that can pass budget-related legislation with a simple Senate majority. "We should do it in reconciliation," he said, adding that the GOP should not "throw good money after bad" and should focus on policies that will make health care more affordable.

He cited a Republican bill passed "before the break," saying the Congressional Budget Office estimated it would reduce premiums by 11% and save taxpayers about $30 billion. "That's one of many reforms that we could put in play to help our country," Arrington said.

The interview also touched on the politics surrounding the vote. The host noted that the recent death of a congressman narrowed the House majority, and asked how Republicans would persuade colleagues in competitive districts to oppose the subsidy extension. Arrington said he believes doing "the right thing" will be rewarded by voters and urged Republicans not to default to defensive, midterm-focused politics.

Arrington framed broader Republican proposals around increasing competition in the private insurance market and addressing what he described as anti-competitive incentives among pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and insurers. "We need more competition," he said, arguing the government has often been part of the problem in health-care costs.

The interview concluded without recording any formal vote outcome in the transcript; the host said the House was scheduled to vote later the same morning.