Schatz votes to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits to protect people’s health care

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, a Hawai‘i Democrat, voted last week to protect people’s health care and prevent monthly premiums from more than doubling for tens of millions of Americans starting next month.

Senate Republicans, however, who have the majority in the Senate rejected the measure, which sought to extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits through 2028.

“Republicans are choosing to rip away health care from millions of Americans on purpose,” said Schatz in a press release following the vote.

He added that while the “cost of everything” is increasing because of policies put in place by President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, people will now be forced to pay hundreds of dollars more every month just to keep their healthcare plan or give up coverage completely.

Extension of the Obamacare tax credits was the key issue that led to Democrats boycotting a Republican funding bill 2 months ago and the following longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12, a total of 43 days.

“This didn’t have to happen,” Schatz said. “We’ve been trying for months to prevent exactly this outcome, and people are now going to needlessly lose their coverage, get sick or worse.”

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, Schatz’s fellow Hawai‘i colleague, also voted in favor of extending Affordable Care Act premium tax credits.

The vote was 51-48 in favor of the Democratic measure, with four Republicans — U.S. Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Josh Hawley of Missouri and Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan of Alaska — siding with the Democrats.

However, because of filibuster rules, the legislation required 60 votes to proceed

Senators voted on the Obamacare tax credits extension measure the same day Schatz hosted a telephone town hall meeting, Dec. 11, with more than 16,000 Hawai‘i residents participating.

Health care was one of the main issues brought up by residents during that tele-town hall.

Other issues asked about by his constituents included federal funding, education, immigration enforcement and increasing costs for goods and services throughout everyday life, which Schatz took to the Senate floor earlier during the week to speak out about.

The Hawai‘i Democrat gave remarks about various ways Trump is increasing prices for Americans, including on food, health care, electricity, home insurance and even Christmas gifts.

“Donald Trump is making people poorer, and he’s doing it on purpose,” Schatz said while speaking from the Senate floor.

He highlighted how Trump’s policies — including tariffs and regulatory rollbacks — have sharply driven up prices throughout daily life for Americans.

The Hawai‘i senator’s comments also came ahead of the Senate vote to extend the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits.

“The president of the United States is very focused. He is focused on building a $300 million ballroom in the White House, while the price of everything has gone up: food, housing, health care, electricity, clothes,” Schatz said, speaking from the Senate floor. “Costs are up, jobs are down and wages are flat. And the president is doing worse than nothing. He’s going out of his way to raise prices.”