Dear Editor:
Rep. Jeff Hurd recently touted his co-sponsorship of a bill that would extend tax credits for health insurance premiums. His own press release said: “With the Enhanced Premium Tax Credit set to expire at the end of 2025, individuals in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District would face an average premium increase of 82%, placing a significant burden on working families across our rural district. Without the extension, millions of self-employed workers and small business owners would see their premiums increase by more than $11,000 a year.”
Senate Democrats are refusing to vote for a budget bill unless it includes a premium tax credit extension. Why? Congress has accomplished precious little this year except massive tax cuts for the wealthy and massive funding cuts for working families.
So, is Rep. Hurd encouraging his leadership to supports a budget that protects Coloradans from those 82% premium increases and ends the government shutdown? No. He’s joined the Republican bandwagon blaming Democrats for standing up for the millions of Americans who purchase healthcare in the marketplace.
Again, from Rep. Hurd’s own press release: “Because of this income-based premium tax credit, a record 24.2 million people signed up for coverage during open enrollment in 2025. In fact, middle-income enrollees increased from 140,000 in 2021 to 900,000 in 2024.”
The wealthy Americans whose big tax cuts were made permanent earlier this year don’t need this premium tax cut extension. Rep. Hurd and his colleagues have access to health insurance provided by the federal government; they don’t need the premium extension.
Democrats are holding out for the millions of self-employed workers, small business owners, and working families whose healthcare depends on an extension of premium tax credits. The budget bill provides their best chance of keeping those credits.
Candace Jones
