FIRST IN THE HILL 

A conservative group is launching new ads targeting GOP senators, urging them to extend ObamaCare subsidies that help people afford health insurance.  

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Plymouth Union Public Advocacy (PUP Advocacy) — a conservative group founded by former heads of the Republican Governors Association, Republican State Leadership Committee and Republican Attorneys General Association — is spending six figures to air ads on TV and digital platforms this week in Washington, D.C., Idaho, Maine, North Carolina, Alaska, South Dakota and West Virginia.

The group argues permanently extending the subsidies should be part of President Trump’s “affordability agenda,” just like extending his 2017 tax cuts. GOP leaders in the House and Senate are working to pass a party-line bill to extend the tax cuts and other Trump priorities.

The 30-second ad plays to Republicans’ loyalty to President Trump.

“We know we can rely on Trump. But we need Congress to act. Some things are too important,” the ad says.  “Congressional Republicans, don’t let us down. Don’t drive up health care costs.”

Extending the subsidies permanently has been a key Democratic priority, while Republicans have been hesitant, at best, to back the effort.  

Millions of enrollees have come to rely on the enhanced subsidies, and they’ve helped boost health insurance enrollment to record levels.  

Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Thom Tillis (N.C.) have been the only GOP senators to publicly express support for extending ACA subsidies that expire at the end of the year. 

The enhanced subsidies were first put into effect during the height of the coronavirus pandemic as part of President Biden’s 2021 economic recovery law and then extended as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. 

The Congressional Budget Office said permanently extending the subsidies, which come in the form of tax credits, would cost $335 billion over the next 10 years.   

Republicans have balked at the cost. They argue the credits hide the true cost of the health law and subsidize Americans who don’t need the help.  

The Republican Study Committee’s 2025 fiscal budget says the subsidies “only perpetuate a never-ending cycle of rising premiums and federal bailouts — with taxpayers forced to foot the bill.”  

Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Nathaniel Weixel, Joseph Choi and Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.

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