¶ Overview
Wilson voted for a bill that would kick 17 million Americans off their health insurance, including nearly 12 million Americans off of Medicaid. More than 35,000 South Carolinians could lose their health coverage as a result of his votes. Since coming to congress in 2001, Wilson has also repeatedly voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, demanding the program be “repealed and replaced” even though nearly 590,000 South Carolinians relied on the ACA to access health insurance.
¶ Wilson Repeatedly Voted To Take Health Coverage From South Carolinians
¶ Wilson Voted Three Times to take health coverage from Nearly 12 Million Americans
¶ July 2025: Wilson Voted For The Final Version Of Republicans’ Reconciliation Bill
7/3/25: Wilson Voted For The Senate FY 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill That Cut Medicaid And Other Social Programs To Offset The Bill’s Costs. In July 2025, Wilson voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, the “motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the bill that would permanently extend nearly $4 trillion in expiring individual and business tax cuts, create several new tax breaks and fund border and immigration enforcement and air traffic control upgrades. It would cut Medicaid and other safety net programs to partly offset the cost. Among other provisions, it would raise the statutory debt ceiling by $5 trillion and appropriate more than $448 billion in mandatory funding for Trump administration priorities and other needs, including $153 billion for defense, $89 billion for immigration enforcement, and $89.5 billion for border control and security. It also would increase the state and local tax deduction cap to $40,000 annually for five years for households making up to $500,000 a year until 2030, when it would permanently revert to $10,000.” The House passed the bill by a vote of 218 to 214. [House Vote 190, 7/3/25; Congressional Quarterly, 7/3/25; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
- HEADLINE: "At Least 17 Million Americans Would Lose Insurance Under Trump Plan" [Washington Post, 7/1/25]
- The Congressional Budget Office Estimated That 11.8 Million People Would Become Uninsured As A Result Of The Medicaid Cuts In Republicans’ Reconciliation Bill. According to the Washington Post, "The bill, which narrowly passed the Senate on Tuesday and now heads back to the House, would effectively accomplish what Republicans have long failed to do: unwind many of the key components of the ACA, President Barack Obama’s signature domestic achievement, which dramatically increased the number of Americans with access to health insurance. To start, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the Senate version of the bill would result in 11.8 million more uninsured in 2034, mostly because of Medicaid cuts, compared with 10.9 million if the House version became law." [Washington Post, 7/1/25]
¶ May 2025: Wilson Voted For House Republicans’ Budget Bill, Which Would Kick Millions Of People Off Medicaid
5/22/25: Wilson Voted For The FY 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill That Included $3.8 Trillion In Tax Cuts Offset By $1.5 Trillion In Spending Reductions To Programs Like Medicaid And The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In May 2025, Wilson voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the bill that would provide for approximately $3.8 trillion in net tax cuts and $321 billion in military, border enforcement and judiciary spending, offset by $1.5 trillion in spending reductions, as instructed in the fiscal 2025 budget resolution (H Con Res 14). It would raise the statutory debt limit by $4 trillion and provide for increased spending on defense and border security, spending cuts on social safety net programs, such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It also includes a mix of tax breaks for businesses and individuals; tax increases on universities and foundations; and a phase-down of clean energy tax credits. […] It would reduce federal spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by requiring states to shoulder more of the cost, expand work requirements for SNAP, extend programs authorized under the 2018 farm bill, and prohibit the U.S. Department of Agriculture from increasing the cost of the Thrifty Food Program. As amended, it would cap state and local tax deductions at $40,000 for households with incomes below $500,000.” The House passed the bill by a vote of 215 to 214. [House Vote 145, 5/22/25; Congressional Quarterly, 5/22/25; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
- The House GOP Budget Bill Was Estimated To Increase The Uninsured Population By 8.6 Million By 2034. According to CNN, “The Medicaid and Affordable Care Act provisions in the package could result in 8.6 million more people being uninsured in 2034, according to an early CBO estimate released by Democratic lawmakers. That number is expected to grow with the latest changes.” [CNN, 5/28/25]
- The House GOP Budget Bill Codified A Trump Administration Proposal That Restricted Access To The Affordable Care Act. According to CNN, “The bill also calls for codifying a Trump administration proposal that would make changes to the Affordable Care Act enrollment process, including shortening the open enrollment period and eliminating the ability of low-income Americans to sign up year-round.” [CNN, 5/28/25]
¶ February 2025: Wilson Voted For A Budget Resolution That Spelled Out Future Medicaid Cuts
2/25/25: Wilson Voted For The FY 2025 Budget Framework That Included $2 Trillion In Cuts, Raised The Statutory Debt Limit By $4 Trillion, And Required House Committees To Recommend Legislation That Would Implement Trump’s Agenda. In February 2025, Wilson voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the concurrent resolution that would recommend a budget for fiscal 2025 and budget levels through fiscal 2034. The resolution would assume minimum savings of $1.5 trillion over 10 years and 2.6 percent economic growth over the same period. It also would require the statutory debt limit to be raised by $4 trillion. It also would authorize the House Ways and Means Committee to increase deficits by $4.5 trillion over 10 years to extend the 2017 tax cuts and implement new tax cuts proposed by the White House. It also would provide instructions for the budget reconciliation process through which separate legislation could be considered and passed in the Senate via a simple majority vote. The measure would deliver instructions to 11 House committees to report legislation that would implement President Donald Trump’s agenda, such as expanding tax cuts and bolstering border security and immigration enforcement. The committees would be required to report their legislative recommendations to the House Budget Committee by March 27, 2025. It also would set a $2 trillion target for the spending cuts to be submitted to the House Budget Committee. The resolution also would stipulate that if the committees don't reach that target, the Ways and Means’ reconciliation instructions to increase the deficit by a maximum of $4.5 trillion would be decreased by the amount the other committees come in below the target. Similarly, it would stipulate that Ways and Means could increase the deficit above the $4.5 trillion level by the amount of savings the committees achieve above the $2 trillion target.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the resolution by a vote of 217 to 215. [House Vote 50, 2/25/25; Congressional Quarterly, 2/25/25; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 14]
- HEADLINE: “What Can House Republicans Cut Instead Of Medicaid? Not Much.” [New York Times, 2/25/25]
- HEADLINE: "House Republican Budget Takes Away Health Care, Food Aid To Pay For Expanded Tax Cuts For Wealthy" [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2/21/25]
- New York Times Reported The $880 Billion In Cuts Required By The Republican Budget Proposal Would Have To Come From Medicaid, Medicare, Or CHIP. According to the New York Times, "The budget resolution itself is silent on whether Congress cuts Medicaid, which provides health coverage to 72 million poor and disabled Americans. But it instructs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the program, to cut spending by $880 billion over the next decade. If the committee can’t save at least that much, the entire effort could be imperiled because of the special process Congress is using to avoid a Senate filibuster. Ten other committees have their own instructions to follow, though none have been assigned with cutting nearly as much. It’s not so simple as finding the cuts elsewhere. The special process, known as budget reconciliation, means Republicans will have to find all $880 billion from within the Energy and Commerce Committee’s jurisdiction. That leaves them with fewer options than one might think. […] If Republicans want to avoid major cuts to Medicaid, the largest pot of available money is in the other big government health insurance program: Medicare. […] Even if the committee cuts everything that’s not health care to $0, it will still be more than $600 billion short. The committee could also save around $200 billion by eliminating the Children’s Health Insurance Program, but that option has not been raised by the budget committee or anyone in House leadership. […] Even if all of these cuts, revenues and rule cancellations from outside health care can pass muster, the committee will still be left with hundreds of billions of dollars to cut to hit its goal. Mathematically, the budget committee’s instructions mean the committee would need to make major cuts to either Medicare, Medicaid or both." [New York Times, 2/25/25]
¶ More Than 35,000 South Carolinians In The Second Congressional District Could Lose Health Coverage A Result Of Wilson’s Votes
July 2025: Wilson Praised The Passage Of The Republican Budget Bill And Claimed It Protected Medicare And Guarded Medicaid From “Waste, Fraud, And Abuse.” According to a press release from Rep. Joe Wilson, “Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) made the following statement upon the final Congressional passage of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill:’ ’Voters made their mandate clear in November for a Republican House and Senate to now deliver the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ to Republican President Donald Trump for his signature, making it law on behalf of the American people. ’Limited government prevails over big government. ’Passage of this single, comprehensive bill delivers on President Trump’s America First agenda by eliminating unnecessary and wasteful government spending, making government work more effectively for South Carolinians and all Americans. ’This bill provides a framework for Congress to secure the border, unleash American energy dominance, extend the Trump Tax Cuts, create jobs, and bring common sense back to the government. ’Medicare and Social Security will be protected, while Medicaid will be guarded against waste, fraud, and abuse, ensuring it is available to the most vulnerable Americans. ’Promises Made, Promises Kept.’” [Press Release – Rep. Joe Wilson, 7/3/25]
Wilson Claimed The American People Wanted Republicans To Pass The Republican Budget Bill And Supported The Bill’s Agenda. Rep. Joe Wilson tweeted, “I spoke on the House floor about how voters made their mandate clear in November for a Republican House and a Republican Senate to deliver the One Big Beautiful Bill to @POTUS behalf of American families. This law provides a framework to secure the border, unleash American energy dominance, extend the Trump tax cuts, create jobs, bring common sense to government, and more.”
[Twitter, @RepJoeWilson, 7/15/25]
An Estimated 35,962 People In Wilson’s District On The Affordable Care Act And Medicaid Were Set To Lose Coverage Due To Republican Budget Bill Health Care Cuts. According to the Joint Economic Committee,
[Joint Economic Committee, Viewed 1/12/26]
2023: 147,500 South Carolinians In The 2nd Congressional District Were Enrolled In Medicaid Or CHIP. According to the Center for American Progress,
[Center for American Progress, 3/11/25]
HEADLINE: “By 2043, SC Hospitals Could Receive $2.4B Less To Treat Medicaid Patients” [South Carolina Daily Gazette, 7/9/25]
- Beginning In 2028, The Republican Budget Bill Was Expected To Cost South Carolina Hospitals An Estimated $150 Million Annually Over 15 Years. According to the South Carolina Daily Gazette, “South Carolina hospitals are set to take a multimillion-dollar annual cut when treating Medicaid patients as the new law pushed through Congress phases out a complicated program that boosted the government’s payments for medical care. In 2028, South Carolina will start losing its ability to pay hospitals for treating Medicaid patients at similar rates as private insurance through what’s known as the state directed payment program. For the 60 general care hospitals in the Palmetto State, that collectively means a looming loss of roughly $150 million annually over 15 years, according to the state’s hospital industry group. Instead of hospitals getting reimbursed with rates that align with private insurance — as they have for the last two years — payments would plummet back to near Medicare levels. The difference would mean an estimated $2.4 billion loss, according to the advocacy group.” [South Carolina Daily Gazette, 7/9/25]
- Without Action From The State Legislature, South Carolina Hospitals Faced Higher All-Around Costs For Health Care And, For Rural Hospitals, Closure. According to the South Carolina Daily Gazette, “Without action by the state Legislature, this will lead to higher all-around costs for health care and insurance for all South Carolinians, according to hospital advocates and researchers. To deal with the change in finances, hospitals may shift costs to other patients, they said. In the worst-case scenario, small, cash-strapped hospitals — often located in rural areas — may cut back on the services they offer or close altogether, forcing South Carolinians to travel farther from home for emergency health care. That would add to the six rural hospitals that have closed since 2010, according to a 2023 legislative study.” [South Carolina Daily Gazette, 7/9/25]
Seven Hospitals In South Carolina, Accounting For 29% Of Hospitals Across The State, Were At Risk Of Closure Due To Medicaid Cuts In The Republican Budget Bill.
According to The Island Packet, “Seven hospitals are at risk of closure, accounting for 29% of hospitals across the state, according to a report conducted by the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, a national policy center that facilitates improvements in health care payment and delivery systems. Of those seven, five have been identified at a heightened risk of immediate closure, according to a study by the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina. This study identified hospitals that meet one or all of the following financial criteria: Whether the hospital has been unprofitable for the last three years. Whether the hospital is at risk of financial distress relative to peer hospitals. Whether the hospital serves a disproportionately high share of Medicaid patients. According to this study, rural hospitals within these criteria face greater risk of being forced to stop providing some services, converting or closing. The five rural hospitals in South Carolina identified as having a heightened risk of closing based on this research study include: Oconee Memorial Hospital, Seneca MUSC Health Chester Medical Center, Chester MUSC Health Marion Medical Center, Mullins The Regional Medical Center, Orangeburg Abbeville Area Medical Center, Abbeville” [Island Packet, 11/18/25]
¶ Wilson Opposed The Affordable Care Act And Allowed Critical Health Care Tax Credits To Expire
¶ Wilson Was Adamant That The Affordable Care Act Be “Repealed And Replaced”
Wilson On The Affordable Care Act: “It Needs To Be Repealed And Replaced.” According to Politico, “Republicans have tried to kill the health care law twice at the Supreme Court, only to be rebuffed. They’ve held more than 50 repeal votes, virtually all of which have died in the Senate. They tried to defund the law through the spending process, but the government shut down instead. As Republicans process Thursday’s sharp rebuke at the hands of the Supreme Court, they’re struggling with what to do next — beset by internal divisions and procedural roadblocks that severely limit their options. The reaction to the ruling ranged from defiance to resignation. […] ‘No, no,’ responds Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.). ‘It needs to be repealed and replaced.’” [Politico, 6/25/15]
Wilson Claimed The Affordable Care Act Forced His Family To Find New Doctors And Coverage And Touted A Proposal To Repeal The Program. According to ABC 6 WJBF, “‘A limited government that he says expands freedom and puts the power back into the hands of American citizens. He says after traveling throughout the District he’s heard many concerns surrounding Obamacare that reflect his own. ‘I’ve had young people behind the counter at grocery stores tell me how they’ve had their hours reduced because of the Obama care consequence of 30 hours or less. Additionally i’ve had medical professionals tell me that the paperwork is overwhelming.’ Wilson added. He says even his family has suffered due to broken promises of the Affordable Care Act. ‘Our family lost our doctors and there were promises that you could keep your doctor, keep your coverage, but we lost both.’ Wilson said. He says newly appointed Health and Human Services Director Tim Price, has created a plan to repeal Obamacare that will put the patient in control of which doctors they see for treatment.” [ABC 6 WJBF, 12/27/16]
- HEADLINE: “Repealing Obamacare Among Top Priority For Congressman Joe Wilson’s 2017 Legislative Agenda” [ABC 6 WJBF, 12/27/16]
¶ During His Time In Congress, Wilson Has Accepted More Than $460,000 In Campaign Contributions From The Insurance Industry
2001-2024: Wilson Accepted $461,778 In Campaign Contributions From The Insurance Industry. According to Open Secrets, from 2002-2024, Rep. Joe Wilson campaign has received $461,778 in campaign contributions from the insurance industry. [Open Secrets, Insurance Money to Congress, Viewed 6/16/26]
- Open Secret’s Insurance Category Included Health, Life, Property, And Car Insurance Companies, Agents, And Brokers. According to Open Secrets, "Health, life, property and car insurance companies, agents and brokers are all included in the insurance industry, which is a major contributor to federal campaigns. HMOs HMOs, which are not included in this industry, are profiled separately in the health sector." [Open Secrets, Insurance, Viewed 6/16/26]
Wilson Voted Three Times Against Extending ACA Premium Tax Credits For Three Years
1/8/26: Wilson Voted Against Extending The Affordable Care Act Tax Credits For Three Years. In January 2026, Wilson voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the bill, as amended, that would extend for three years, through the end of calendar year 2028, the enhanced tax credits to subsidize premiums for health insurance purchased on the Affordable Health Care Act health insurance markets. It would allow taxpayers whose household income exceeds 400 percent of the federal poverty line to receive tax credits for three more years. The measure would retroactively take effect Jan. 1, 2026.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 230 to 196. [House Vote 11, 1/8/26; Congressional Quarterly, 1/8/26; Congressional Actions. H.R. 1834]
- 17 Republicans Voted For Passage Of The “Clean” Extension, Following A Procedural Vote The Day Before That Had Support From Nine Republicans. According to Politico, “Seventeen Republicans joined Democrats in passing legislation Thursday that would revive enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies for three years, rebuffing opposition from GOP leadership. The 230-196 vote follows a procedural vote Wednesday to advance the bill, where nine Republicans joined Democrats in favor of moving forward.” [Politico, 1/8/26]
- Speaker Johnson Called The Bill “Really Bad Policy” And Said He Wished That Not Everyone Had A Vote. According to Politico, “Johnson’s office, in a last-ditch effort Thursday morning to undermine the effort, blasted out a memo accusing ‘Democrats [of] want[ing] to expand a COVID subsidy system already flagged for massive fraud and abuse, with absolutely zero reforms.’ After the vote Thursday evening, Johnson said in an interview of the Republicans who defected, ‘I think it’s a really bad policy, and I wish they hadn’t, but everybody had a vote.’” [Politico, 1/8/26]
1/8/26: Wilson Effectively Voted Against Extending The Affordable Care Act Tax Credits. In January 2026, Wilson voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, the “adoption of the rule (H Res 780) providing for consideration of the bill (HR 1834). It would consider as adopted the McGovern, D-Mass., substitute amendment that would extend, through 2028, the enhanced tax credits to subsidize premiums for health insurance purchased on the Affordable Health Care Act health insurance markets. The rule would direct the clerk to transmit to the Senate a message that the House has passed HR 1834 no later than one calendar day after passage.” The vote was on the adoption of the rule. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 224 to 202. [House Vote 10, 1/8/26; Congressional Quarterly, 1/8/26; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 780; Congressional Actions. H.R. 1834]
1/7/26: Wilson Effectively Voted Against Extending The Affordable Care Act Tax Credit. In January 2026, Wilson voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, the “motion to discharge from the House Rules Committee the rule (H Res 780) providing for consideration of the anticipated ACA tax credit extension vehicle (HR 1834).” The vote was on the motion to discharge the rule. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 221 to 205. [House Vote 4, 1/7/26; Congressional Quarterly, 1/7/26; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 780; Congressional Actions. H.R. 1834]
¶ Wilson Did Not Sign Discharge Petitions Aimed At Extending Premium ACA Tax Credits
Wilson Was Not One Of The Republican Signers On A Discharge Petition Led By House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
[Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Discharge Petition No. 10, 11/12/25]
- House Minority Leader Jeffries’ Discharge Petition Sought To Extend ACA Premium Tax Credits For Three Years. According to Politico Pulse, "House Democrats could move as soon as tomorrow to force a vote on extending the expired Obamacare subsidies for three years, Meredith Lee Hill reports. This measure follows last month’s major setback for Speaker Mike Johnson, when four House Republicans broke from the party to support a discharge petition backed by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to hold a vote." [Politico Pulse, 1/6/26]
Wilson Was Not One Of The Republican Signers On A Discharge Petition Led By Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick.
[Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Discharge Petition No. 12, 12/10/25]
- December 2025: Fitzpatrick Filed A Discharge Petition Aimed At Extending ACA Premium Tax Credits For Two Years. According to a press release from Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, "Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) released the following statement after filing a discharge petition to bring his Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act directly to the House floor for a vote, ensuring Congress takes action to prevent devastating health insurance premium increases when current protections expire at the end of the year: ‘Congress cannot sit idle while American families face a preventable crisis. Our job is to protect the people we serve, and that responsibility demands immediate action. […] Key Provisions of the Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act The legislation advances five reforms designed to protect affordability, strengthen accountability, and ensure taxpayer value: Prevents premium spikes: Extends enhanced premium tax credits through 2027, to protect families from abrupt monthly cost increases. Restores Consumer Control: Stops unauthorized plan and subsidy changes by requiring consent and prompt notification before any modifications take effect. Shines Light on Middlemen: Ends hidden spread pricing, severs PBM profits from drug prices, and requires full rebate pass-through to ensure savings reach patients. Gives Families New Tools to Manage Costs: Expands access to Health Savings Accounts and simplifies premium payments to reduce disruptions in coverage. Smart Stewardship of Taxpayer Dollars: Modernizes eligibility and introduces a reasonable minimum contribution to protect long-term affordability and responsible stewardship of federal dollars." [Press Release – Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, 12/10/25]
Wilson Was Not One Of The Republican Signers On A Discharge Petition Led By Rep. Josh Gottheimer.
[Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Discharge Petition No. 13, 12/10/25]
- December 2025: Gottheimer Filed A Discharge Petition Aimed At Extending ACA Premium Stax Credits For Two Years. According to a press release from Rep. Josh Gottheimer, "Today, December 11, 2025, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) released the following statement: ‘In less than three weeks, unless Congress acts now, Affordable Care Act tax credits will expire, and health insurance premiums will shoot up 175% — or $20,000 a year — for families in Jersey. This week, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans and I, with 36 of our Democratic and Republican colleagues, introduced new bipartisan legislation that includes a two-year extension of health insurance premium tax cuts for American families. It’s a commonsense proposal that will keep costs down and prevent families’ premiums from skyrocketing in January. But, the Speaker of the House is refusing to bring our legislation to the floor for a vote. So, our bipartisan group just launched a discharge petition to force an immediate vote in the House. We must get this done now. We must find common ground and lower health insurance premiums. Time is running out for families.’" [Press Release – Rep. Josh Gottheimer, 12/11/25]
¶ Wilson voted for a bill that would weaken protections for people with pre-existing conditions and failed to address premium spikes
December 2025: Wilson Voted For The Lower Health Care Premiums For All Americans Act
2025: Wilson Voted For The Lower Health Care Premiums For All Americans Act That Allowed The ACA Tax Credits To Expire. In December 2025, Wilson voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the bill that would expand the ability of small businesses to establish association health plans and bars states from preventing small businesses from obtaining stop-loss insurance for self-funded health insurance plans. It would codify and expand rules governing employer-funded health reimbursement arrangements and would allow employees in such arrangements to pay Affordable Care Act health insurance premiums through salary reductions. It would provide funding for ACA policy cost sharing reduction payments that reduce deductibles and copayments. It would prohibit plans from providing abortion-related care. It also would require pharmacy benefit managers to provide transparency regarding prescription drug costs and the drug rebates they receive.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 216 to 211. [House Vote 349, 12/17/25; Congressional Quarterly, 12/17/25; Congressional Actions, H.R. 6703]
¶ The Lower Health Care Premiums For All Americans Act Did Nothing To Address The Expiration Of ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits And Would Weaken Protections For People With Pre-Existing Conditions
The December 2025 Republican Health Care Bill Failed To Prevent Imminent Premium Spikes For More Than 20 Million People Who Relied On ACA Marketplace Plans. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, "The health bill House Republicans are preparing to bring to the floor this week not only fails to prevent imminent premium spikes for more than 20 million people in marketplace plans, but would raise costs even higher for many marketplace enrollees and weaken pre-existing condition protections for individuals and small businesses." [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 12/16/25]
- HEADLINE: "House Republicans Pass Health Care Plan Without Re-Upping Insurance Subsidies" [Politico, 12/17/25]
- HEADLINE: "House Passes GOP Health Bill Without Subsidies" [Axios, 12/17/25]
- HEADLINE: "House Passes GOP Health Care Bill Without Obamacare Subsidy Extension" [The Hill, 12/17/25]
- HEADLINE: "House Passes GOP Health Care Bill Without ACA Extension" [CBS News, 12/17/25]
The December 2025 Republican Health Care Bill Would Expand Association Health Plans, Which Would Result In Higher Underlying Premiums For Individuals And Small Businesses That Remained In ACA-Regulated Markets. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, "It would expand association health plans (AHPs), a type of health plan that trade associations, professional groups, and other organizations may offer their members, to cover self-employed individuals and small businesses as if they were large employers. By allowing more people to enroll in coverage not subject to ACA standards and consumer protections, this would segment insurance risk pools: individuals who are younger and healthier, or small businesses with younger or healthier employees, could get plans with lower premiums because they would be priced separately from ACA-compliant coverage and wouldn’t have to meet ACA standards such as having to cover a set of essential health benefits. As a result, individuals and small businesses remaining in ACA-regulated markets would see higher underlying premiums." [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 12/16/25]
The December 2025 Republican Health Care Bill Would Likely Lead To Higher Premiums For Older And Sicker Small Groups And Self-Employed People, Thereby Undermining Protections For People With Pre-Existing Conditions. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, "In addition, the bill would undermine protections for people with pre-existing conditions. While it would bar AHPs from rejecting individuals or charging them more based on certain health factors, it would give them greater ability to base a small group’s or self-employed person’s costs on their health risk compared to individual or small-group coverage. This would likely lead to higher premiums for older and sicker small groups and self-employed individuals, making such arrangements more attractive to healthier individuals and groups." [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 12/16/25]
¶ South Carolinians faced dramatic premium increases as a result of the expiration of critical health care tax credits
HEADLINE: “Healthcare Costs Expected To Rise As ACA Subsidies Expire" [WISTV 10, 1/5/26]
- South Carolina Insurance Brokers Estimated Between 75,000 And 100,000 Residents Would Have To Either Pay Full Price For Health Care Coverage Or Forego Insurance Altogether Due To The Credits’ Expiration. According to WISTV 10, “Health insurance could become significantly more expensive for thousands of South Carolinians in the new year after Congress failed to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that expired Dec. 31. Nationwide, about 5 million people enrolled through the ACA marketplace could see higher monthly premiums as a result. In South Carolina, insurance brokers estimate between 75,000 and 100,000 residents will now have to decide whether to pay full price for coverage or go without insurance altogether. ‘Premiums typically increase about 15% each year,’ said Joel Lourie, a Columbia-based insurance broker. Final enrollment numbers for January have not yet been released, but early projections show the financial impact could be substantial.” [WISTV 10, 1/5/26]
September 2025: The Urban Institute Estimated That South Carolina Would See The Second-Steepest Health Insurance Coverage Loss If The ACA Premium Credits Expired. According to a report published by the Urban Institute, “The effects of expiration of the enhanced PTCs on subsidized Marketplace coverage and uninsurance would vary widely by state. Decreases in enrollment would be as small as 9 percent in Utah and Vermont and 12 percent in Connecticut, which fully subsidizes premiums and cost sharing up to 175 percent of FPL, to 60 percent or more in Louisiana and Texas (table 2). Increases in uninsurance vary as well, with minimal changes in Hawaii, Vermont, and the District of Columbia, but increases of 50 percent in South Carolina and 65 percent in Mississippi.” [Urban Institute, Page 10, Viewed 6/17/26]
The South Carolina Institute Of Medicine And Public Health Estimated That 95 Percent Of South Carolinians Who Purchased Healthcare Through The Affordable Care Act Marketplace Benefitted From The Program’s Premium Subsidies. According to the South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health, “In South Carolina, approximately 571,000 people purchase their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace, a number that is projected to rise to over 600,000 by the end of 2025. Ninety-five percent of those people receive a premium tax credit that makes their Marketplace plan more affordable. ‘This report highlights the significant role the premium tax credits play in supporting health coverage and the broader health care system in South Carolina,’ says Maya Pack, executive director of IMPH. ‘Data demonstrates that thousands of people would lose coverage, increasing the financial strain on hospitals — especially in rural areas.’” [South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health, 5/28/25]
The Institute Estimated South Carolina Could Face As Much As $5 Billion In Annual Losses If The Tax Credits Expired. According to a report published by the South Carolina Institute Of Medicine and Public Health, “There will be many consequences to an abrupt loss of coverage by a significant population. Many are on an individual level; those who lose coverage are more likely to experience poorer health outcomes and advanced mortality. Research predicts economic consequences to individuals and the state could total almost $5 billion in losses annually. All of these factors should be weighed as South Carolina faces the potential expiration of Premium Tax Credits at the end of 2025.” [South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health, Page 24, 5/28/25]
- HEADLINE: “Consequences Of Ending Affordable Care Act Enhanced Premium Tax Credits In South Carolina” [[South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health, 5/28/25]
¶ Wilson’s Inaction Created A Dramatic “Subsidy Cliff”
The Expiration Of Enhanced ACA Premium Tax Credits Created A “Subsidy Cliff” Whereby If Households Earned Even $1 More Than A Specific Income Threshold They Could Lose All Eligibility For Assistance. According to CNBC, "For the first time in years, many Americans enrolled in a health insurance plan via the Affordable Care Act marketplace will need to keep a careful accounting of their annual income — or risk a hefty federal tax bill. Enhanced ACA subsidies lapsed at the end of 2025, leaving millions of households on the hook for higher insurance premiums. The lapse also reintroduced the so-called subsidy cliff, whereby households that earn even $1 more than a specific income threshold will lose all eligibility for subsidies, also known as premium tax credits. That income cutoff, which varies by family size, is $62,600 for a single person, $84,600 for a two-person household and $128,600 for a family of four in 2026, for example." [CNBC, 1/6/26]
- More Than Two Million Americans Had Incomes Near A “Subsidy Cliff.” According to CNBC, "More than 2 million people enrolled in an ACA marketplace plan have an income near the subsidy cliff. ACA enrollees also tend to have relatively volatile incomes, making it hard to predict their annual earnings, experts said." [CNBC, 1/6/26]
Households That Went Over The Income Limit Would Have To Pay Back Any Federal Assistance They Received For Premiums, Which Could Cost Thousands Of Dollars, When They Filed Their Taxes. According to CNBC, "Households over the limit would have to pay back any federal subsidies they received for premiums — potentially worth thousands of dollars — when they file taxes next year for 2026." [CNBC, 1/6/26]
Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill Exacerbated The Problem By Stripping Away Guardrails Capping The Amount Of Excess Subsidies Households Are Required To Repay. According to CNBC, "The potential financial impact is exacerbated by a multitrillion-dollar legislative package known as the ‘big beautiful bill’ that Republicans passed over the summer, which stripped away guardrails capping the amount of excess subsidies households must repay, experts said." [CNBC, 1/6/26]
¶ 22 Million Americans Relied On ACA Premium Tax Credits To Afford Health Insurance
Approximately 22 Million Americans Relied On ACA Premium Tax Credits To Afford Health Insurance. According to CNBC, "About 22 million Americans received premium subsidies, also known as premium tax credits, in 2025. Households can opt to receive the tax credit in one of two ways: As a lump sum during tax season or as an advanced payment. Under the latter option, by far the most popular, the federal government issues the tax credit directly to a consumer’s insurer, which then lowers the consumer’s out-of-pocket premium. Consumers receive those advanced ACA subsidies based on an estimated annual income they provide when signing up for insurance. They must reconcile those subsidies during tax season and repay any excess tax credits to the IRS." [CNBC, 1/6/26]
¶ Wilson has repeatedly voted to repeal the affordable care act
2017: Wilson Voted For The American Health Care Act That Which Would Result In 23 Million Fewer Americans With Health Insurance By 2026. In May 2017, Wilson voted for the American Health Care Act which would have significantly repealed portions of the Affordable Care Act by cutting Medicaid, cutting taxes on the rich, removing safeguard for pre-existing conditions and defunding Planned Parenthood. The overall legislation would have in part, also according to Congressional Quarterly, “ma[d]e extensive changes to the 2010 health care overhaul law, by effectively repealing the individual and employer mandates as well as most of the taxes that finance the current system. It would [have], in 2020, convert[ed] Medicaid into a capped entitlement that would provide[d] fixed federal payments to states and end[ed] additional federal funding for the 2010 law’s joint federal-state Medicaid expansion. It would prohibit federal funding to any entity, such as Planned Parenthood, that performs abortions and receives more than $350 million a year in Medicaid funds. […] It would [have] allow[ed] states to receive waivers to exempt insurers from having to provide certain minimum benefits.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 217 to 213. The bill, in modified forms, died in the Senate. [House Vote 256, 5/4/17; Congressional Quarterly, 5/4/17; Kaiser Family Foundation, 5/17; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1628]
- Legislation Would Result In 14 Million Additional Uninsured Americans In 2018, Rising To 23 Million In 2026. According to the New York Times, “A bill to dismantle the Affordable Care Act that narrowly passed the House this month would leave 14 million more people uninsured next year than under President Barack Obama’s health law — and 23 million more in 2026, the Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday. Some of the nation’s sickest would pay much more for health care. Under the House bill, the number of uninsured would be slightly lower, but deficits would be somewhat higher, than the budget office estimated before Republican leaders made a series of changes to win enough votes for passage. Beneath the headline-grabbing numbers, those legislative tweaks would bring huge changes to the American health care system.” [New York Times, 5/24/17]
- Wilson Touted His Vote For The American Health Care Act And Called The Affordable Care Act “Failed” Legislation. According to a press release from Rep. Joe Wilson, “Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) issued the following statement after House Republicans introduced the American Health Care Act: ‘Families in the Second Congressional District and across the country have seen firsthand how Obamacare has failed—destroying jobs, increasing premiums, spiraling deductibles, and lack of health care choices. We need a real solution that gives everyone access to quality, affordable insurance. ‘I am grateful that yesterday, House Republicans introduced legislation that puts American people in charge of their health care – not the federal government. Our bill specifically protects those with pre-existing conditions, allows young adults to remain on their parent's insurance until they are 26, and provides a stable transition to our system of lower costs and increased options. ‘I encourage all of my constituents to go to readthebill.gop to hear how we are simultaneously repealing and replacing Obamacare with a health care system that works.’” [Press Release – Rep. Joe Wilson, 3/7/17]
2017: Wilson Voted For The FY 2018 Republican Study Committee Budget Resolution Which In Part Called For Fully Repealing Obamacare. In October 2017, Wilson voted for a budget resolution that would in part, according to Congressional Quarterly, “provide for $2.9 trillion in new budget authority in fiscal 2018. It would balance the budget by fiscal 2023 by reducing spending by $10.1 trillion over 10 years. It would cap total discretionary spending at $1.06 trillion for fiscal 2018 and would assume no separate Overseas Contingency Operations funding for fiscal 2018 or subsequent years and would incorporate funding related to war or terror into the base defense account. It would assume repeal of the 2010 health care overhaul and would convert Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program into a single block grant program. It would require that off budget programs, such as Social Security, the U.S. Postal Service, and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, be included in the budget.” The underlying legislation was an FY 2018 House GOP budget resolution. The House rejected the RSC budget by a vote of 139 to 281. [House Vote 555, 10/5/17; Congressional Quarterly, 10/5/17; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 455; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 71]
- Legislation Called For Repealing The ACA And Replacing It With Parts Of AHCA. According to the Republican Study Committee FY 2018 Budget, “Obamacare is a failed experiment and cannot be reformed; it must be fully repealed. […] The RSC budget fully repeals Obamacare and its distortionary and destructive tax increases. […] On January 4, 2017, the RSC reintroduced the American Health Care Reform Act (AHCRA), the updated version of the patient-centered health care reform legislation that the RSC has sponsored since the 113th Congress. Introducing AHCRA on the second day of the 115th Congress kick-started a process by which the House has begun to fulfill the promise of repealing and replacing Obamacare. The American Health Care Act (AHCA) passed the House on May 4, 2017. This reconciliation bill, while not perfect by any standards, includes many of the principles and policies first put forward in legislation by the RSC.” [Republican Study Committee, Accessed 10/17/17]
2017: Wilson Voted For A Budget Resolution Designed To Begin The Process Of Repealing The Affordable Care Act, Which Also Assumes A $9 Trillion Increase In The Federal Debt Over The Next Ten Years. In January 2017, Wilson voted for a budget resolution designed to begin reconciliation instructions to repeal the Affordable Care Act. According to Congressional Quarterly, “the proposed 10-year spending framework culminates in a $1 trillion annual deficit and adds about $9 trillion to the national debt.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the budget resolution by a vote of 227 to 198. The Senate had already passed the resolution. [House Vote 58, 1/13/17; Congressional Quarterly, 1/4/17; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 3]
2016: Wilson Voted To Override President Obama’s Veto Of A Bill That Repealed Portions Of The Affordable Care Act, Including Eliminating The Act’s Medicaid Expansion In 2018. In February 2016, Wilson voted to override President Obama’s veto of a bill that according to Congressional Quarterly, would have “scrap[ed] in 2018 the law’s Medicaid expansion, as well as subsidies to help individuals buy coverage through the insurance exchanges.” Additionally, according to Congressional Quarterly the bill would have “repeal[ed] portions of the 2010 health care law and block[ed] federal funding for Planned Parenthood for one year. As amended, the bill would zero-out the law’s penalties for noncompliance with the law’s requirements for most individuals to obtain health coverage and employers to offer health insurance.” The vote was on a veto override, which required a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House, which was 285 in the House. The House rejected the veto override by a vote of 241 to 186. [House Vote 53, 2/2/16; Congressional Quarterly, 12/3/15; Real Clear Politics, 12/4/15; Congressional Quarterly, 2/2/16; NBC News, 1/8/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3762]
2016: Wilson Voted For A Bill That Repealed Portions Of The Affordable Care Act, Including Eliminating The Act’s Medicaid Expansion In 2018. In January 2016, Wilson voted for a bill that according to Congressional Quarterly, would have “scrap[ed] in 2018 the law’s Medicaid expansion, as well as subsidies to help individuals buy coverage through the insurance exchanges.” Additionally, according to Congressional Quarterly the bill would have “repeal[ed] portions of the 2010 health care law and block[ed] federal funding for Planned Parenthood for one year. As amended, the bill would zero-out the law’s penalties for noncompliance with the law’s requirements for most individuals to obtain health coverage and employers to offer health insurance.” The vote was on a motion to concur with the Senate amendment which indicated final passage. The House approved the bill by a vote of 240 to 181. The Senate had already passed the measure. President Obama vetoed the legislation, which the House failed to override. [House Vote 6, 1/8/16; Congressional Quarterly, 12/3/15; Real Clear Politics, 12/4/15; NBC News, 1/8/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3762]
2015: Wilson Voted To Repeal Portions Of The Affordable Care Act And To Defund Planned Parenthood For One Year Through A Reconciliation Bill. In October 2015, Wilson voted to repeal portions of the Affordable Care Act through a reconciliation bill. According to Congressional Quarterly, the reconciliation bill would have “repeal[ed] portions of the 2010 health care law, including: the requirements for most individuals to have health insurance and employers with more than 50 employees to offer it or face penalties, the 2.3 percent tax on the sale of medical devices, the tax on certain high-value employer-sponsored health insurance plans, and the Prevention and Public Health Fund. The measure also would block, for one year, federal funding for Planned Parenthood and would increase funding for community health centers by $235 million in both fiscal 2016 and 2017.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 240 to 189. The Senate later passed a different version of the legislation, which the president vetoed, which failed to be overridden in the House. [House Vote 568, 10/23/15; Congressional Quarterly, 10/23/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3762]
2015: Wilson Voted To Repeal The Affordable Care Act, As Part Of The FY 2016 Conference Report Budget Resolution. In April 2015, Wilson voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act as part of the FY 2016 Conference Report budget resolution. According to Congressional Quarterly, “Adoption of the conference report on the concurrent resolution that would reduce spending by $5.3 trillion over the next 10 years, including $2 trillion in reductions from repeal of the 2010 health care overhaul.” The vote was on the Conference Report; the Conference Report passed by a vote of 226 to 197. The Senate also passed the budget resolution. [House Vote 183, 4/30/15; Congressional Quarterly, 5/5/15; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 11]
- Center For Budget And Policy Priorities Said The Budget Would Eliminate Health Coverage For Millions Of Americans. According to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, “The House-passed budget agreement that the Senate will consider next week would repeal health reform and cut Medicaid over the coming decade by roughly half a trillion dollars on top, making tens of millions more Americans uninsured.” [Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, 5/1/15]
2015: Wilson Voted For The FY 2016 Budget Resolution Which Called For Repealing Most Of The Affordable Care Act. In March 2015, Wilson voted for the FY 2016 budget resolution which called repealing most of the Affordable Care Act. According to Congressional Quarterly, the resolution, “assumes […] that the 2010 health care overhaul is repealed — including its expansion of Medicaid to cover more Americans under the program.” In addition, also according to Congressional Quarterly, the budget resolution calls for the “repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board. […] In repealing the health care law, however, the budget assumes that the reductions made to Medicare by that law would not be repealed; instead, those savings and others would be retained, with the budget calling for them to be used to shore up Medicare rather than ‘paying for new entitlements.’” The vote was on the budget resolution. The House passed the resolution 228 to 199. The budget resolution died in the Senate, but a similar concurrent resolution did pass both Houses. [House Vote 142, 3/25/15; Congressional Quarterly, 3/23/15; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 11; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 27]
2015: Wilson Voted For A FY 2016 Budget Resolution Which Called For Repealing Most Of The Affordable Care Act. In March 2015, Wilson voted for a FY 2016 Budget Resolution which called repealing most of the Affordable Care Act. According to Congressional Quarterly, the resolution, “assumes […] that the 2010 health care overhaul is repealed — including its expansion of Medicaid to cover more Americans under the program.” In addition, also according to Congressional Quarterly, the budget resolution calls for the “repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board. […] In repealing the health care law, however, the budget assumes that the reductions made to Medicare by that law would not be repealed; instead, those savings and others would be retained, with the budget calling for them to be used to shore up Medicare rather than ‘paying for new entitlements.’” The vote was on the adopting the substitute amendment. The House passed the amendment 219 to 208 and later passed the budget resolution. The budget resolution died in the Senate, but a similar concurrent resolution did pass both Houses. [House Vote 141, 3/25/15; Congressional Quarterly, 3/23/15; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 11; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 86; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 27]
2015: Wilson Voted To Repeal The Affordable Care Act Through Reconciliation As Part Of The FY 2016 Republican Study Committee Budget Resolution. In March 2015, Wilson voted for repealing the Affordable Care Act through reconciliation. According to the Republican Study Committee, the budget would have “fully repeal[ed] Obamacare spending and tax increases through reconciliation.” The underlying budget resolution would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “provide[d] for $2.804 trillion in new budget authority in fiscal 2016, not including off-budget accounts. The substitute would call for reducing spending by $7.1 trillion over 10 years compared to the Congressional Budget Office baseline.” The vote was on the substitute amendment to a Budget Resolution. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 132 to 294. [House Vote 138, 3/25/15; Republican Study Committee, FY 2016 Budget; Congressional Quarterly, 3/25/15; Congress.gov, H. Amdt. 83; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 27]
2015: Wilson Voted For A Bill Repealing The Affordable Care Act And Requiring Congressional Committees To Come Up With A Replacement In No Specified Time. In February 2015, Wilson voted for a bill repealing the Affordable Care Act and directing four Congressional Committees to come up with a replacement, without specifying when this must be done. According to Congressional Quarterly, “this bill repeals the 2010 health care overhaul […] and requires House committees to report legislation to replace the health care law. Under the measure, the repeal would be effective 180 days after enactment (rather than retroactively repealed to a date in 2010, as in the introduced version), and it provides that the provisions of law that were amended or repealed by the health care overhaul would be restored or revived as if the overhaul had not been enacted. […] The bill requires four House committees to report legislation within each of their jurisdictions to replace the 2010 health care overhaul: Education and the Workforce, Energy and Commerce, Judiciary, and Ways and Means. It does not, however, specify a time frame or deadline for those committees to act.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill 239 to 186. The Senate took no substantive action on the legislation. [House Vote 58, 2/3/15; Congressional Quarterly, 1/30/15; Congressional Quarterly, Accessed 10/1/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 596]
2014: Wilson Voted To Repeal The Affordable Care Act, As Part OF Rep. Paul Ryan’s Budget Proposal. In April 2014, Wilson voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, as part of House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) proposed budget resolution covering fiscal years 2015 to 2024. According to The Hill, “Rep. Paul Ryan’s final House budget includes a full repeal of ObamaCare. […] Ryan did not lay out the parameters of a replacement, or say what would happen to those who have already obtained coverage under the new healthcare law. But Ryan, seen as a future GOP White House hopeful, said the law was a ‘costly mistake’ that needed to be replaced.” The House adopted the budget resolution by a vote of 219 to 205, but the Senate did not. [House Vote 177, 4/10/14; The Hill, 4/1/14; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 96]
2014: Wilson Voted To Repeal The Affordable Care Act. In April 2014, Wilson voted for the Republican Study Committee’s proposed budget resolution for fiscal years 2015 to 2024. According to the Republican Study Committee, “The RSC budget fully repeals Obamacare and provides no funding for it over the next ten years. This reduces spending by $2.066 trillion over ten years and follows through on the commitment of House conservatives to reverse the Administration’s unconstitutional federal government takeover of the nation’s health care system.” The House considered the RSC budget as a substitute amendment to House Republicans’ FY 2015 budget resolution; the amendment was rejected by a vote of 133 to 291. [House Vote 175, 4/10/14; Republican Study Committee, 4/7/14; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 615; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 96]
- RSC Budget Proposed Replacing ACA With Its Own “American Health Care Reform Act.” According to the Republican Study Committee, their budget would “[i]mplement real patient-centered health care reform that would lower costs and improve access with the RSC's American Health Care Reform Act. […] Republicans aren't simply opposed to Obamacare, and we are not blind to the problems that existed pre-Obamacare. Rising costs, limited access to the health care marketplace, and a serious need for medical malpractice reform were issues that existed both before and after Obamacare. The American Health Care Reform Act (AHCRA), the only comprehensive Obamacare alternative to be endorsed by a majority of House Republicans, was born from this realization.” [Republican Study Committee, 4/7/14]
- Washington Post’s Wonkblog: AHCRA “Likely To Cover Fewer People Than Obamacare.” According to a Sarah Kliff post on the Washington Post’s Wonkblog, “The Republican Study Committee put out a new proposal Wednesday, billed as legislation that could replace the Affordable Care Act. Dubbed the American Health Care Reform Act, H.R. 3121 starts by repealing President Obama's health law and standing up a whole other set of reforms in its place. The component parts are likely to cover fewer people than Obamacare.” [Washington Post’s Wonkblog, 9/19/13]
2013: Wilson Voted To Repeal The Affordable Care Act. In May 2013, Wilson voted for a bill that, according to the Congressional Research Service, “Repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, effective as of its enactment. Restores provisions of law amended by such Act. Repeals the health care provisions of the Health Care and Education and Reconciliation Act of 2010, effective as of the Act's enactment. Restores provisions of law amended by the Act's health care provisions.” The bill passed by a vote of 229 to 195. The bill was placed on the Senate Calendar but no further action was taken. [House Vote 154, 5/16/13; CRS Summary of H.R. 45, 5/16/13; Congressional Actions, H.R. 45]
- The Bill Was The 37th Attempt By House Republicans To Repeal The Affordable Care Act. According to Daily Beast, “Yes, H.R. 45 has zero chance of surviving the Senate, much less the president’s veto pen. Yes, the House had already voted 36 times to repeal the law in part or in its entirety. […] But just because Vote No. 37—this one spearheaded by former presidential candidate and noted stateswoman Michelle Bachmann—was futile does not mean it was pointless. No, siree. As the GOP leadership’s office was at pains to lecture reporters this week, Obamacare remains broadly unpopular, and therefore Republican lawmakers have an obligation to the public to keep fighting the good fight. ‘This is a drumbeat,’ party strategist John Feehery told me the morning of the vote. ‘When Obamacare starts really hitting people, the Democrats will rue the days that they voted not to repeal.’” [Daily Beast, 5/17/13]
2013: Wilson Voted For Repealing The Affordable Care Act As Part Of The FY 2014 Ryan Budget. In March 2013, Wilson voted for repealing the Affordable Care Act, as part of House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) proposed budget resolution covering fiscal years 2014 to 2023. According to the House Budget Committee, the budget would “Repeal the President’s health-care law.” The resolution passed the House by a vote of 221 to 207, but died in the Senate. [House Vote 88, 3/21/13; House Budget Committee, 3/12/13; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 25]
2013: Wilson Voted To Repeal The Affordable Care Act. In March 2013, Wilson voted to support repealing the Affordable Care Act, as part of the Republican Study Committee’s proposed budget resolution covering fiscal years 2014 to 2023. According to the Republican Committee, the budget would “Repeal the President’s health-care law.” The vote was on an amendment to the House budget resolution replacing the entire budget with the RSC’s proposed budget; the amendment failed by a vote of 104 to 132 with 171 Democrats voting present. According to Congressional Quarterly, “Repeating a strategy from last year, 171 Democrats voted “present” to push Republicans to vote against the RSC plan to make sure it did not have enough support to replace the Ryan plan.” [House Vote 86, 3/21/13; Republican Study Committee, 3/18/13; Congressional Quarterly, 3/25/13; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 35; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 25]
2012: Wilson Voted To Repeal The Affordable Care Act. In July 2012, Wilson voted for a bill that, according to Congressional Quarterly, “would [have] repeal[ed] the 2010 health care overhaul law, which requires most individuals to buy health insurance by 2014, makes changes to government health care programs and sets new requirements for health insurers. The bill would [have] restore[d] the provisions of law amended or repealed by the health care overhaul, and repeal certain provisions of the health care reconciliation law.” The vote was on passage of the bill, which the House approved by a vote of 244 to 185. The bill died without any further substantive action by the Senate. [House Vote 460, 7/11/12; Congressional Quarterly, 7/11/12; Congressional Actions, H.R. 6079]
2012: Wilson Voted To Repeal The Affordable Care Act As Part Of The FY 2013 Ryan Budget. In March 2012, Wilson voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, as part of House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) proposed budget resolution covering fiscal years 2013 to 2022. According to the House Budget Committee, the budget would “repeal the President’s health care law.” The vote was on passage; the resolution passed by a vote of 228 to 191. The Senate later rejected a motion to proceed to consider the House-passed budget resolution. [House Vote 151, 3/16/12; House Budget Committee, 3/20/12; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 112]
2012: Wilson Voted To Repeal The Affordable Care Act. In March, 2012, Wilson voted to support repealing the Affordable Care Act, as part of the Republican Study Committee’s proposed budget resolution covering FY 2013 to 2022. According to the Republican Committee, the budget would “Repeal ObamaCare to eliminate $636 billion in additional spending over ten years.” The vote was on an amendment to the House budget resolution replacing the entire budget with the RSC’s proposed budget; the amendment failed by a vote of 136 to 285. [House Vote 149, 3/29/12; Republican Study Committee, 3/12; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 1003; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 112]
2011: Wilson Voted For FY 2012 Ryan Budget, Which Would Have Repealed The Affordable Care Act. In April 2011, Wilson voted for repealing the Affordable Care Act, as part of House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) proposed budget resolution covering fiscal years 2012 to 2021. According to the House Budget Committee, the budget would “repeal[] the government takeover of healthcare.” The vote was on passage; the resolution passed by a vote of 235 to 193. [House Vote 277, 4/15/11; House Budget Committee, 4/5/11; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 34]
2011: Wilson Voted To Repeal The Affordable Care Act. In April 2011, Wilson voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act as part of the Democrats’ proposed budget resolution covering FY 2012 to 2021. According the text of the budget resolution, “It is the policy of the House that the law of the land should support making affordable health care coverage available to every American family, and therefore the Affordable Care Act should not be repealed.” The vote was on an amendment to the House budget resolution replacing the entire budget with the House Democrats’ proposed budget; the amendment failed by a vote of 166 to 259. [House Vote 276, 4/15/11; Congressional Record, 4/15/11; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 259; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 34]
2011: Wilson Voted To Repeal The Affordable Care Act. In April 2011, Wilson voted to support repealing the Affordable Care Act, as part of the Republican Study Committee’s proposed budget resolution covering FY 2012 to 2021. According to the Republican Committee, the budget would “Repeal ObamaCare to eliminate $677 billion in additional spending over ten years.” The vote was on an amendment to the House budget resolution replacing the entire budget with the RSC’s proposed budget; the amendment failed by a vote of 119 to 136. In a tactical move, 172 Democrats voted “present” in order to force Republicans to either vote against their own proposal or else it would supersede Paul Ryan’s budget. According to the Huffington Post, “After time for the vote expired, Republicans held it open so that enough of them could switch their votes to prevent the RSC budget from passing.” [House Vote 275, 4/15/11; Republican Study Committee, 4/7/11; Huffington Post, 4/15/11; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 258; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 34]
2011: Wilson Voted To Block The Implementation Of The Affordable Care Act. In February 2011, Wilson voted for a bill that would have, blocked implementation of the Affordable Care Act. According to the Tulsa World, the bill contained an amendment to H.R. 1 that was “sponsored by Rep. Dennis Rehberg, R-Mont., to the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act. The amendment would bar spending on efforts to implement the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or title I or subtitle B of title II of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act. The House passed the bill by a vote of 235 to 189. The Senate extensively amended the legislation and passed the bill, but it was not taken up again by the House. The final version of the fiscal year 2011 funding bill stripped the rider that defunded the Affordable Care Act. According to Roll Call, “Democratic aides argued the Senate Democrats' unity is a sign of just how successful the Nevada Democrat was in negotiating for his Conference’s priorities and said it will help him with the debt limit. The final deal stripped the most significant riders, such as defunding the health care law, and protected Democratic spending priorities, including health care research and Head Start.” [House Vote 147, 2/19/11; Tulsa World, 2/27/11; Roll Call, 4/18/11; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
2011: Wilson Voted To Repeal The Affordable Care Act. In January 2011, Wilson voted for a bill that, according to Congressional Quarterly, “would [have] repeal[ed] the 2010 health care overhaul law, which requires most individuals to buy health insurance by 2014, makes changes to government health care programs and sets new requirements for health insurers. The bill would restore the provisions of law amended or repealed by the health care overhaul, and repeal certain provisions of the health care reconciliation law.” The House passed the bill by a vote of 245 to 189; however, the Senate did not take any action on it. [House Vote 14, 1/19/11; Congressional Quarterly, 1/19/11; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2]
¶ Nearly 590,000 South Carolinians Relied On The ACA For Health Insurance
2026: 587,567 South Carolinians Enrolled In Affordable Care Act Marketplace Plans.
[KFF, Viewed 6/12/26]