John,
Working families are already stretched thin, paying more for groceries, utilities, gas, and everyday essentials. But now, the GOP is forcing them to absorb something even more crushing: the doubling or even tripling of their health care premiums under the Affordable Care Act.
Republicans pushed through the Trump-GOP’s “Big Ugly Bill” — over Democrats’ objections — that showers massive tax cuts on the ultra-wealthy while declining to extend the crucial ACA subsidies that keep coverage within reach for ordinary people. The result? Billionaires pay less, while millions of Americans get slammed with premium spikes they simply can’t afford.
Notices are already hitting mailboxes. A worker paying $888 a month in 2025 can expect that bill to explode to approximately $1,904 in 2026. Families will be hit even harder. Meanwhile, the wealthiest Americans — the people least affected by rising costs — walk away with more money in their pockets thanks to the GOP largesse toward those who already have the most.
To stop this disaster, House Democrats have filed a discharge petition to force Speaker Mike Johnson to hold a vote on a three-year extension of ACA subsidies. When the petition reaches 218 signatures, Johnson must hold the vote. If all Democrats sign, we need just four Republicans willing to put their own constituents’ needs ahead of their billionaire donors.
Use our simple tool to see whether your Representative has signed — then send them a message urging them to stand up for affordable health care, or thanking them if they already have.
This injustice is entirely preventable — if Congress chooses working families over billionaire donors.
During the shutdown, Democrats repeatedly urged Republicans to restore the subsidies, only to be dismissed. Republicans said they’d only discuss solutions once the government reopened — but now that it has, they are turning their backs on working families, just to let billionaires walk away with yet another tax break.
The GOP’s insistence on rewarding the wealthy at the expense of everyone else is exactly why this emergency remains unresolved. Millions of people are still facing the loss of affordable coverage. Congress holds the power, and the responsibility, to stop it.
Find out here whether your Representative has signed the discharge petition, and send them your message today.
And thank you for fighting to protect working families who deserve relief, not more hardship.
Robert Reich
Inequality Media Civic Action
