By John L. Micek
masslive.com
(TNS)
U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, ran for and won office in 2024 as a MAGA loyalist. But he might also be instrumental in getting a deal to extend Affordable Care Act tax subsidies.
Moreno, who bested Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, is one of around a dozen senators who are participating in talks to extend Obamacare credits that lapsed on Jan. 1, according to Politico.
Other lawmakers trying to reach a deal on the credits, which impact tens of millions of Americans, include well-known bipartisan dealmakers such as U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., the online news outlet reported.
Recommended Articles
Taxes January 7, 2026
House Backs Renewing Obamacare Tax Credits, Defying GOP Leaders
But Moreno’s involvement in the bipartisan talks doesn’t signal a shift away from his MAGA alignment.
“Putting America first means putting Americans first,” he said when Politico asked him about his role in the negotiations. “People are being affected, and I want to help the people who need help. That’s what we should be doing.”
Moreno told Politico that he wants to get around 35 of the Senate’s 53 Republican senators to support an eventual deal, rather than relying on just a handful of Democrats and some Republican crossovers
He described the latter as a “defection vote,” and said he’s keeping the White House and Senate GOP leaders up to date on the talks, Politico reported.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., spoke glowingly of Moreno to Politico, calling him “whip-smart,” and saying that he was “willing to do the work.”
“He’s willing to sit down with people and try and find common ground, which I think on an issue like this is challenging,” Thune told Politico. “Around here, that’s worth a lot.”
Meanwhile, Moreno has been reaching out to other lawmakers to help move the credits to the finish line. They include such pragmatists as U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine, D- Va., Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Angus King, I-Maine, Politico reported.
Photo caption: Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio.
_______
©2026 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit masslive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC.
Thanks for reading CPA Practice Advisor!
Subscribe Already registered? Log In
Need more information? Read the FAQs
