{"id":2519967,"date":"2025-12-11T08:05:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T13:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dueling-healthcare-votes-test-thunes-gop-unity-on-obamacare\/"},"modified":"2025-12-11T08:06:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T13:06:10","slug":"dueling-healthcare-votes-test-thunes-gop-unity-on-obamacare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dueling-healthcare-votes-test-thunes-gop-unity-on-obamacare\/","title":{"rendered":"Dueling healthcare votes test Thune\u2019s GOP unity on Obamacare"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdueling-healthcare-votes-test-thunes-gop-unity-on-obamacare%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2519967&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses a key Senate vote scheduled for Thursday on the extension of expiring Obamacare subsidies, posing a notable test of GOP unity. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) is presenting a Republican alternative to the Democrats&#8217; proposed three-year extension, with most Republicans expected to support the GOP plan. Though, opposition exists within the party, including libertarian Senator Rand Paul, who criticizes the GOP proposal as &#8220;Obamacare-lite.&#8221; Some Republicans remain undecided, especially moderates facing reelection, who are concerned about millions losing coverage when enhanced subsidies lapse at the end of the year.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats are united behind their simpler,three-year subsidy extension that removes income limits and fraud safeguards opposed by Republicans. The GOP proposal, led by Senators Bill Cassidy and Mike Crapo, focuses on providing up to $1,500 annually to qualifying individuals for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">health savings accounts<\/a>. Even though both measures are unlikely to achieve the 60 votes needed to pass, the competing proposals serve as a messaging battle ahead of the 2026 elections.<\/p>\n<p>Republican leadership is preparing to negotiate a compromise post-vote, with Thune open to bipartisan talks despite limited time before the Christmas recess. The situation highlights internal GOP divisions over healthcare policy and the Affordable Care Act&#8217;s future.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Dueling healthcare votes test Thune&rsquo;s GOP unity on Obamacare<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2440807\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A Thursday vote on expiring <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/affordable-care-act\/\">Obamacare<\/a> subsidies is presenting Senate Republicans with their latest unity test as Democrats seek to make the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-elections\/\">2026 elections<\/a> a referendum on affordability.<\/p>\n<p>Majority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-thune\/\">John Thune<\/a> (R-SD) is offering Republicans a GOP alternative to the three-year extension Democrats will bring to the floor, and most of his members appear ready to support it in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3912419\/thune-challenge-democrats-obamacare-vote-gop-counterproposal\/\">dueling votes<\/a> slated for Thursday.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3914132\/democrats-chuck-grassley-rare-district-attorney-victories-trump-blue-slips\/\">Democrats hand Grassley rare district attorney victories as Trump fumes over blue slips<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3912629\/gene-simmons-gives-alex-padillas-son-music-career-advice-have-a-fall-back-position\/\">Gene Simmons gives Alex Padilla&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/simmons-gives-music-career-advice-have-a-fall-back-position\/\" title=\"Simmons gives music career advice: &#039;Have a fall back position&#039;\">son music career advice<\/a>: &#8216;Have a fall back position&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3912419\/thune-challenge-democrats-obamacare-vote-gop-counterproposal\/\">Thune to challenge Democrats&#8217; Obamacare vote with GOP counterproposal<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3912580\/trump-affordability-speech-pennsylvania\/\">TRUMP RIPS BIDEN AND DEMOCRATS OVER AFFORDABILITY IN PENNSYLVANIA: &lsquo;LIKE BONNIE AND CLYDE PREACHING PUBLIC SAFETY&rsquo;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>But Thune will be unable to escape at least some GOP opposition to the proposal, with libertarian Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/rand-paul\/\">Rand Paul<\/a> (R-KY) ridiculing it as &ldquo;Obamacare-lite&rdquo; and several others remaining noncommittal on how they will vote.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, a handful of Republicans could end up siding with Democrats on the second bill. Republicans broadly view the pandemic-era subsidies as overly generous and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/watch\/2439494\/\">plagued by fraud<\/a>, but centrists up for reelection next year are reluctant to be seen as doing nothing to extend them, given that millions are projected to lose coverage when the enhanced subsidies lapse on Dec. 31.<\/p>\n<p>Although both measures will likely fail to muster the required 60 votes to advance, the exercise has become a messaging battle that Democrats believe gives them an upper hand. All Democrats are expected to stay united on Thursday, even as Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-fetterman\/\">John Fetterman<\/a> (D-PA) pans the votes as a futile political exercise. Instead, he is advocating a one-year extension that could draw bipartisan backing.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re offering a very simple proposal that would stop this catastrophe in its tracks on Jan. 1, and they are fighting amongst themselves, arguing over a set of policies that wouldn&rsquo;t fix the problem,&rdquo; Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chris-murphy\/\">Chris Murphy <\/a>(D-CT), a member of the Democratic leadership team, said of Republicans. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to be united.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Democratic proposal is a simple, three-year extension free of the income limits and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fraud\/\">fraud<\/a> guardrails Republicans wanted in stalled negotiations over the subsidies. The GOP legislation, led by Sens. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bill-cassidy\/\">Bill Cassidy<\/a> (R-LA) and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-crapo\/\">Mike Crapo<\/a> (R-ID), would provide up to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3912419\/thune-challenge-democrats-obamacare-vote-gop-counterproposal\/\">$1,500 annually to qualifying recipients<\/a> for health savings accounts.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/3914087\/gop-obamacare-bill-proposal-cuts-medicaid-funding-illegal-immigrants\/\">GOP OBAMACARE PROPOSAL CUTS MEDICAID FUNDING FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Thune had been leaning against putting forward a competing proposal, given it could highlight the GOP rift over the Affordable Care Act, but he ultimately changed course after a Tuesday lunch with his entire conference. The alternative, some Republicans feared, was risking the appearance of not caring about <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/policy\/healthcare\/\">healthcare<\/a> costs.<\/p>\n<p>Senate Majority Whip <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-barrasso\/\">John Barrasso<\/a> (R-WY) offered a brief but candid reaction to Paul&rsquo;s planned &ldquo;no&rdquo; vote, noting that he regularly bucks leadership: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not a surprise, is it?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Still, Republicans have been struggling to coalesce around a counterproposal, with rank-and-file Republicans releasing a flurry of bills this week, some of which allow for a temporary extension of the enhanced subsidies, while others end them entirely.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) attempted to pass his bill via unanimous consent on Wednesday afternoon, but it was rejected by Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tammy-baldwin\/\">Tammy Baldwin<\/a> (D-WI). Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) also told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> he may try the same after the dueling healthcare votes fail.<\/p>\n<p>Other Republicans, including Sens. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\">Susan Collins<\/a> (R-ME) and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/josh-hawley\/\">Josh Hawley<\/a> (R-MO), were content to leave reporters in suspense regarding how they will vote on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>Hawley confirmed he would support the GOP bill but said he was undecided on the Democratic proposal, expressing concern that providing HSA funds would not address rising out-of-pocket premiums.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m in the all-of-the-above category in terms of, I think we should do everything we can to bring down costs,&rdquo; Hawley said.<\/p>\n<p>Collins, facing a battleground reelection fight next year, would not commit to supporting the Cassidy-Crapo plan, citing unspecified negotiations on healthcare.<\/p>\n<p>The voting plans of other Republicans who support a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >scaled-back subsidy extension<\/a>, including Sens. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dan-sullivan\/\">Dan Sullivan<\/a> (R-AK), <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lisa-murkowski\/\">Lisa Murkowski<\/a> (R-AK), and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/thom-thillis\/\">Thom Tillis<\/a> (R-NC), were also unclear.<\/p>\n<p>Sullivan is debating whether to unveil a plan of his own to extend subsidies &ldquo;for a limited period of time and with necessary reforms&rdquo; or co-sponsor one of the other GOP bills, according to a spokeswoman.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), joined at left by Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), speaks to reporters after a closed-door meeting with fellow Republicans, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Republican leadership, meanwhile, is already preparing to look past Thursday&rsquo;s floor action, with Thune insisting that a subsidy deal with Democrats that includes GOP reforms could be possible even after the Dec. 31 expiration date.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3912419\/thune-challenge-democrats-obamacare-vote-gop-counterproposal\/\">THUNE TO CHALLENGE DEMOCRATS&rsquo; OBAMACARE VOTE WITH GOP COUNTERPROPOSAL<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t rule it out,&rdquo; Thune told reporters. &ldquo;Obviously, we don&rsquo;t have a lot of time to do this. But I think there are ways in which you could, where there&rsquo;s a will.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>After Thursday, senators would only have one week to hammer out a compromise before lawmakers depart for the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/christmas\/\">Christmas<\/a> recess.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thune&#8217;s GOP unity tested in dueling Obamacare subsidy votes<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3204,"featured_media":2519968,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25343815631672.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[6203,4606,12589,68629,23610],"class_list":["post-2519967","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-gop","tag-healthcare","tag-obamacare","tag-political-votes","tag-thune"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25343815631672.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2519967","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3204"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2519967"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2519967\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2519971,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2519967\/revisions\/2519971"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2519968"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2519967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2519967"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2519967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}