Wisconsin Representative Criticizes Obamacare, Remains Non-committal on Subsidy Extension
Wisconsin Rep. Derrick Van Orden has labeled the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, a “failed program.” This comes as debates heat up over the future of health insurance for 45 million Americans.
With the expiration of Obamacare tax subsidies looming, House Republicans, including Van Orden, are blocking their extension. The Congressional Budget Office warns that this could leave 3.8 million people uninsured next year.
During a Nov. 4 visit to a La Crosse homeless shelter, Van Orden addressed the Republican stance on the subsidies, dismissing their continuation as a priority. He stated, “People need health insurance. I want every single American citizen to have quality, affordable, reliable health care. But the time to debate that is after the government is open, not now.”
Van Orden’s interview on WISN’s Upfront saw him avoiding a direct answer on subsidy support, redirecting the conversation to unrelated issues. “Tony Evers wants you to focus on this,” he remarked about the subsidies, “so that you don’t focus on the fact that … there’s over 200 cases since 2018 of Wisconsin schoolchildren being groomed and molested by their teachers.”
Despite not committing to a stance on the subsidies, Van Orden has consistently advocated for a complete repeal of Obamacare. His congressional website and 2024 campaign platform both call for dismantling what he terms the “last vestiges of the disastrous Obama Care.”
In 2023, Van Orden endorsed the unsuccessful Limit, Save, Grow Act, which proposed cuts to Obamacare and risked depriving 116,600 veterans of certain health care benefits.
As of now, over 313,000 residents of Wisconsin are enrolled in Obamacare. Van Orden is seen as one of the more vulnerable Republican incumbents heading into the 2026 elections.
The post Van Orden says Obamacare is a “failed program,” won’t commit to extending subsidies appeared first on American Journal News.
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