I’m proud that I have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with President Trump since the day I introduced him in Baton Rouge back in 2016. Through my role as co-chair of all three Trump campaigns in our state, and even as I cast every one of Louisiana’s electoral votes for him in 2020 amid the chaos in Washington, my commitment to his America First agenda has never wavered, not during the sham impeachments, and certainly not now. That’s why I’m fighting to finally end Obamacare’s failed subsidies and replace them with bold, market driven reforms that put power back in the hands of American families.

The so-called “enhanced” Obamacare subsidies, set to expire at the end of 2025, are nothing more than a taxpayer-funded Band-Aid on a fatally broken system. These COVID-era handouts have funneled over $100 billion straight into the pockets of insurance companies since 2021, with fraud alone costing hardworking Americans an estimated $27 billion this year. They prop up skyrocketing premiums while enriching corporate giants, all at the expense of families who see their costs spiral higher. President Trump has been crystal clear: We need real solutions, not more Washington bailouts that explode the deficit and distort the free market. That’s why I oppose any extension—not for two years, not for one year, not even a single day. Letting these subsidies lapse clears the path for genuine reform, restoring fiscal sanity and forcing innovation where it’s desperately needed.

If Democrats and their RINO allies try to force short-term talks, any so-called “compromise” must come with ironclad guardrails: strict income caps to prevent subsidizing high earners, mandatory fraud audits to claw back the billions wasted, and a hard sunset date tied to verifiable premium reductions through cross-state competition. Anything less is just kicking the can down the road, allowing politicians to claim a hollow victory while costs continue to climb. These subsidies must be eliminated entirely. They drive premiums up by nearly the exact amount of the handout, acting as a hidden tax on every unsubsidized family. Ending them stops the corporate welfare and empowers Louisiana families to take control of their own health care dollars.

So, what comes next? We replace this leftist mess with President Trump’s proven vision: putting the people’s money directly into the hands of families, not bureaucrats or insurance executives. I strongly support massively expanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), allowing individuals to use tax-free dollars for premiums, deductibles, and everyday care. Ideas floating on the Hill, like Senator Cassidy’s proposal to redirect subsidy dollars into pre-paid HSAs for those on Bronze plans, are tepid steps towards limited compromise. But they still keep us tethered to Obamacare’s failing framework. We can, and must, go further.

The way forward is clear: Repeal Obamacare’s job killing mandates that stifle choice and innovation. Let Americans buy insurance across state lines to unleash competition and drive down prices. Enforce complete price transparency so families can shop for coverage the way they shop for anything else, no more hidden fees or surprises. Turbo-charge HSAs with generous contribution limits and matching funds for working families, making them a powerful tool for preventive care and long-term health. In Louisiana, that means protecting our rural hospitals with targeted block grants, while ending the ACA’s one-size-fits-all nightmare that has left too many behind.

We’ll guarantee coverage for pre-existing conditions through market-based high-risk pools and reinsurance programs, not through Obama’s government takeover that has doubled premiums and shrunk options. This isn’t pie in the sky dreaming. President Trump has already delivered results: record-low uninsured rates before COVID, insulin capped at $35 a month, the end of surprise medical billing, and expanded short-term plans and association health plans. That’s the patient-first approach that works, focusing on keeping Louisianans healthy rather than lining corporate pockets.

Of course, critics will cry about potential political fallout if costs rise in the midterms. But rising costs are the direct result of Obamacare and Democrat policies, not Republican leadership. Any attempt to pin this on republicans is pure projection. Republicans win by going on the offensive, highlighting how Louisiana families have been crushed by premiums that have doubled under Democrat rule, while billions flow to insurance companies. The choice couldn’t be clearer: Democrats’ chaos and corporate welfare versus Trump’s proven path to freedom and affordability.

I lead with conviction every single day, fighting for reforms. We must make health care affordable again. Louisiana deserves better than Obamacare’s failed promises. It’s time to put America First and deliver the bold change President Trump demands. Let’s get it done.