National Taxpayers Union (NTU) President Pete Sepp on Monday announced the launch of a targeted ad campaign pressing Congress not to extend the temporary “premium tax credits” expanded to households making as much as $500,000 during the pandemic.
The campaign focuses on key audiences in Washington and beyond, warning lawmakers that taxpayers cannot afford another round of wasteful subsidies that drive up deficits while failing to lower health care costs. Even worse, talk of a 7–10 day stopgap bill will only further put taxpayers on the hook.
“Short-term patches should not be paid for by long-term debt,” Sepp said. “Congress should reject Senator Schumer’s reckless demands and protect taxpayers from endless brinkmanship.”
Even after the enhanced subsidies expire, households under 250% of the federal poverty line will continue to receive subsidies covering costs for the vast majority of premiums.
But the enhanced subsidies have already cost taxpayers tens of billions of dollars annually while doing little to address the root drivers of rising health care costs.
“Congress has a choice: either keep pouring gasoline on the fire of unsustainable health care spending, or pursue real reforms that address the drivers of high costs,” Sepp said. “Extending these credits would be a betrayal of taxpayers.”