Speaker Johnson tries to rein in MTG following lawmaker’s criticism of GOP on healthcare costs

House Speaker Mike Johnson says he has spoken with Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene following the fellow Republican lawmaker’s criticism of their party over healthcare costs and Obamacare subsidies that could expire at the end of the year as Congress is paralyzed by a government shutdown.

Johnson also said he offered to give Greene a seat at the table on healthcare negotiations, likely to rein in her sharp criticism. 

The speaker said he talked on the phone with Greene last week to tell her that House Republicans were “working around the clock” to bring down rising healthcare costs after she repeatedly criticized her conference for failing to address the issue. 

“I had a thoughtful conversation with her on the phone the other night,” Johnson told host Shannon Bream on “Fox News Sunday.” 

Over the last week, Greene has voiced criticism of her fellow Republicans for failing to come up with a solution to Obamacare tax credits that are set to expire at the end of the year. Democrats in Congress currently want to secure a renewal of the subsidies in exchange for votes to reopen the government.

She criticized House Republican leadership, headed by Johnson, for failing to actually come up with solutions. 

“Not a single Republican in leadership talked to us about this or has given us a plan to help Americans deal with their health insurance premiums DOUBLING,” Greene posted to X. 

“The issues of the subsidies are real. It’s not something that anybody can say is made up,” Greene told The Hill last week. “Also, people with regular or private plans, their premiums are looking to go up a median of 18 percent, that’s brutal. I know a lot of small business owners, like a family of four, and they’re paying $2,000 a month.” 

She said Republicans have “got to get real and actually come up with a solution.” 

Johnson pushed back in his interview Sunday, saying Republicans have “hundreds of ideas literally on the table” to lower healthcare prices, but said Democrats voting against funding bills to reopen the government are an obstacle to their plans. 

The speaker also offered to include Greene in the committees negotiating the healthcare subsidies with Democrats, so her perspective can be heard. 

“Marjorie does not serve on those committees so I offered to have her come in the room and be a part of that discussion if indeed she wants to do that,” Johnson said.