California lawmakers push bipartisan bill to extend ACA tax credits before Dec. expiration

WASHINGTON D.C. (KGO) -- Millions of Americans could see their health care costs more than double if Congress fails to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits set to expire at the end of next month.

The subsidies were a sticking point during the recent 43-day government shutdown, when Senate Republicans agreed to vote on the issue in December as part of their deal to reopen the government.

If lawmakers don't act, ACA enrollees could pay an average of 114% more in out-of-pocket costs, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis. Monthly premiums would jump from about $74 to $158 on average.

California Reps. Sam Liccardo, D-San Jose, and Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, are leading a bipartisan effort to prevent that hike. Their bill - dubbed the Fix It Act - would extend the tax credits for two years.

MORE: White House circulates plan to extend Obamacare subsidies as Trump pledges health care fix

"Twenty-two million Americans shouldn't be forced to pay the price for Congress' failure to act," Kiley said.

He told ABC7 News they are hopeful the bill will appeal to budget-conscious conservatives, since the proposal would not increase the deficit but offer crack downs on "Medicare Advantage waste."

"Instead, we're making targeted reforms to control costs, to prevent fraud, to prevent overcharges and those measures, those reforms actually pay for the two-year extension," Kiley said.

On Tuesday, the two announced three more co-sponsors on both sides of the aisle, including Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Santa Clara.

MORE: Estimated 400K Californians could be 'priced out' of Covered CA if Congress doesn't extend funding

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked about reports that President Donald Trump is delaying the expected rollout of his health care policy plan - which would also extend the ACA subsidies - after some congressional Republicans pushed back against the effort.

"I will tell you that health care is a topic of discussion that's happening very frequently and robustly inside the West Wing," Leavitt told reporters on Monday. "Right now, the President is very much involved in these talks, and he's very focused on unveiling a health care proposal that will fix the system and will bring down costs for consumers."

House Speaker Mike Johnson has signaled there isn't broad Republican support for continuing the tax credits, but Kiley and Liccardo remain confident about their measure.

Liccardo called the administration's engagement "refreshing," while political observers warn the fractured Republican Party could struggle to unite behind any solution.

"I'm very open negotiating with them and anyone else about how we can do it. We've got tens of millions of Americans who are struggling right now to pay their bills, and seeing their health care premiums double is not going to help," Liccardo told ABC7 News. "We've got plenty to discuss about the details and how it can be done."