Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott wants Republicans in Congress to pass a law restoring subsidies to the Obamacare exchanges if they’re struck down by the Supreme Court.
The Mississippi Republican, who is now a lobbyist, said Thursday that it was normal procedure for Congress to pass technical fixes to big bills.
“I would think they should work at that,” he told reporters at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast, according to TPM.
The Supreme Court decided in early November to take up King v. Burwell, which challenges subsidies helping residents of 36 states purchase insurance. The case involves whether Congress intended for subsidies to be available to people signing up on the federal Obamacare exchange — as the IRS ultimately decided — or to only people signing up on state exchanges, as conservatives argue the text of the law indicates.
Millions of people would be affected by the decision, which could also make a difference in hundreds of billions in federal spending.
Lott confirmed to reporters that he’d support Congress passing a fix if the Supreme Court sided against the subsidies.
“Sure. Yeah. I would.”
