Republican U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani of Tucson voted Thursday against extending a set of Affordable Care Act tax credits for three years.
He did so after previously issuing warnings about expiration of the subsidies, The Arizona Republic notes, and did not join 17 Republicans who joined with all Democrats to pass the bill in the House. All Republicans in the Arizona delegation voted "no."
Ciscomani, who represents a southeast Arizona swing district, warned last year of "massive" consequences for Arizonans if the health subsidies were allowed to expire, as they did on Dec. 31. "Doing nothing is not an option," he wrote in a Dec. 4 news release.
Ciscomani
However, when several members of Congress including two Republicans introduced discharge petitions that would force a force on extending the subsidies, Ciscomani didn't sign on, while dozens of his GOP colleagues did, Laura Gersony of The Arizona Republic reports.
Ciscomani aide CJ Karamargin told The Republic Ciscomani is "not accustomed" to signing onto discharge petitions, "especially when there's an alternative plan offered by leadership."
Ciscomani voted against bringing the three-year extension proposal to a vote on the House floor on Wednesday, and then voted against the bill on Thursday.
In a statement to The Republic, Ciscomani said he disagreed with the tax credits' extension.
“I have been clear: my support for a temporary extension MUST be accompanied by real common-sense reforms. Tackling the fraud and abuse that are part of the program is not an option — it is a requirement,” he wrote.
“The three-year extension proposed by the Democrat leader does nothing for families struggling with rising healthcare costs, quite the opposite. It keeps the status quo and that’s not acceptable.”
He had previously said for months that the subsidies were crucial for keeping down his constituents’ health-care costs in 2026.
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