Iowa Rep. Zach Nunn’s Stance on the Affordable Care Act and Tax Credits
In a surprising move, Iowa Representative Zach Nunn has endorsed a bill to renew tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as Obamacare, despite his long-term goal to dismantle the program.
Since the beginning of the year, over 126,000 Iowans have faced increased insurance premiums due to the expiration of these credits. Nunn, alongside 16 other Republican members of the House with challenging reelection campaigns, supported a Democratic initiative to extend these credits for another three years. More details here.
Speaking to GOP voters in Urbandale on January 28, Nunn emphasized, “Let me be very clear, I’m not in favor of the ACA going forward,” expressing his desire to see the program abolished. “I want the ACA gone as much as any of you. But I’m not going to leave 126,000 Iowans to wait for Congress to get its job done.” He revealed that Republicans have a plan to “immediately end” Obamacare.
The House approved the measure to extend tax credits on January 8 with 230 votes, but the bill’s future in the Republican-dominated Senate remains uncertain. Nationwide, around 22 million Americans might have to decide whether to pay increased premiums, reduce their coverage, or forgo insurance altogether.
These developments occur in the context of last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), envisaging Medicaid cuts up to $1 trillion over the next decade. This could result in approximately 15 million Americans losing health insurance by 2035, with primary savings redirected as tax breaks for wealthy individuals and large corporations.
Although Nunn endorsed the OBBB and subsequently promoted it through television advertisements, his stance has sparked criticism. Unrig Our Economy, an advocacy group for working-class interests, voiced concerns about Nunn’s priorities. “Nunn and his Republican colleagues voted for the largest cuts to health care in history in order to give more tax breaks to billionaires,” stated Leor Tal, the organization’s director. “Now, they’re doubling down on attacking Americans’ care by trying to dismantle the ACA. Americans don’t need higher costs and more barriers to coverage; they need Republicans in Congress to stop voting to take away their health care.”
Public opinion reflects these sentiments, with a KFF tracking poll showing a 58% approval rating for Obamacare as of January 2026.
As Nunn campaigns for a third term, he becomes one of the most vulnerable Republicans in Congress facing reelection, according to the Democratic party.
