The New Jersey Citizen Action (NJCA) has expressed support for the recent House vote to extend enhanced premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for three years. The organization called on the Senate to pass the bill without adding provisions that could increase costs or limit access to care.
Laura Waddell, NJCA’s Healthcare Program Director, commented on the House decision: “The House vote to advance a three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits was a necessary step to protect affordable healthcare for millions of families. This vote only succeeded because a handful of Republicans joined all Democrats – proof that action was possible all along. We thank the members of New Jersey’s delegation who voted to put their constituents first, and we welcome Rep. Tom Kean Jr.’s decision to break with Republican leadership and help move this bill forward.”
Waddell also addressed Congressman Tom Kean Jr.’s previous voting record: “We haven’t forgotten though that Congressman Kean voted this past summer to terminate coverage for 15 million people by cutting $1 trillion from healthcare to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. This vote is the least he could do now. Kean should support H.R. 4849, a bill to reverse ALL of the health cuts.”
She criticized other Republican representatives from New Jersey: “This vote was the bare minimum the Republican Members of Congress could do to address affordability, and most Republicans couldn’t even do that including NJ Representatives Jeff Van Drew and Chris Smith. They once again decided to ignore the health and financial well-being of their constituents who desperately need access to affordable healthcare coverage. By voting against restoring enhanced ACA tax credits, they failed to meet even the bare minimum needed to address the healthcare crisis.”
According to Waddell, not extending these tax credits last year led to increased premiums for more than 22 million people nationwide, including nearly 500,000 in New Jersey. She noted that one in four ACA enrollees have already dropped or plan to drop their coverage due to affordability issues.
Waddell urged swift action from lawmakers: “However, it is still possible to right this wrong. We urge the U.S. Senate to immediately pass a three-year extension of the ACA premium tax credits without harmful conditions that would raise costs, limit women’s access to life-saving reproductive care, end zero-premium plans, or push low-income people off coverage. New Jersey families cannot afford more delays, excuses, or political games with their healthcare.”
