Obamacare Tax Credits Key To Small Businesses In VA: Walkinshaw

RESTON, VA — The importance of premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act was the focus of conversation at the Elden Street Tea Shop in Reston on Wednesday. U.S. Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-Fairfax) talked with owner Rachel Rozner and her employees about the efforts of congressional Republicans to eliminate the Obamacare credits.

"I wanted to come to this small business today, because it's often overlooked that the Affordable Care Act has been transformational in terms of giving people the ability to take that risk and start a small business," Walkinshaw said. "The Affordable Care Act has given millions of people the opportunities and flexibility to start that small business, and the enhanced premium tax credits have been critical."

The number of employees at the Elden Street Tea Shop ranges from five to 10 people, depending on the season, according to Rozner. If the premium tax credits were eliminated, she would have to consider providing subsidies for her long-term employees so they could continue to afford healthcare.

"If my employees get sick, it costs me more money, in order for me to protect them a little bit and to help them out," Rozner said. "But at the same time, that's more money out of our small business pocket that has to be allocated."

"Republicans want to take health care from hard-working Americans so much that they're willing to shut down the government over it," Walkinshaw said. "Democrats are saying this is a crisis. It is immediate. Families across the country are getting notices now that their premiums are skyrocketing."

Although the former Braddock District supervisor was elected to represent the 11th Congressional District — which includes most of Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax — Walkinshaw's history fighting for the Affordable Act goes back to 2009 to 2010, when he was the chief of staff for his predecessor in Congress, U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D).

"Republicans at the time fought it tooth and nail," Walkinshaw said on Wednesday. "They spent the last 15 years, including most notably, perhaps, during Trump's first term, trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act and never came up with a plan to replace it."

During the pandemic, Congress passed enhanced premium tax credits to help middle and working class families afford health insurance on the Affordable Care Act exchanges. Those tax credits are set to expire at the end of the year.

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"Families are getting notices about what their premiums will be next year," Walkinshaw said. "The average increase in the Commonwealth of Virginia is an additional $1,200 per year that families will pay. Some folks, depending on their income level and their family status, will see their premiums double or triple if we don't act."

During negotiations on Capitol Hill to reopen the government, Democrats have dug in, opposing any effort by Republicans to eliminate the ACA tax credits.

"Republicans are divided on this issue in Congress, especially those in competitive districts," Walkinshaw said. "Those in the Senate, who are a little bit more moderate, recognize that this needs to be addressed. But, you still have, especially in the House, a lot of hardliners who are still working to outright appeal the Affordable Care Act."

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) is stuck between a rock and a hard place, according to Walkinshaw, because Johnson recognizes that cutting the ACA tax credit cuts could be a huge liability for Republicans in the long run.

"He also recognizes that if he were to put a bill on the floor in the House that extends these Obamacare tax credits, it would be a liability for him personally," he said.