A bloc of House GOP centrists just made the ultimate hardball play against Speaker Mike Johnson — agreeing to help Democrats effectively seize control of the Republican agenda by forcing a vote on their own bill on the looming Obamacare subsidies cliff.

Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick had carved himself an aisle-crossing persona without impeding leadership prerogatives. Until Wednesday.

Republican senators who defeated a Democratic bill to extend ObamaCare subsidies for three years without reforms to the program are frustrated that the same proposal appears likely to pass the

Four centrist Republicans broke with House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday and signed onto a Democratic-led petition that will force a House vote on extending for three years enhanced pandemic-era subsidies that lower health insurance costs for millions of Americans.

Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., also called for an immediate vote, and said a similar vote in the Senate “should follow” in a video on X. Even if the vote passes the House, it faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where lawmakers remain deadlocked on a healthcare plan.

La., said Republicans worked on the issue throughout the weekend but could not come to an agreement with a group of members who want the funds extended.