A bloc of House Republicans voted with Democrats to pass a bill Thursday that would extend the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced tax credits for three years.
In a 230-196 vote, 17 House Republicans bucked their leadership to join Democrats to revive the subsidies, which are intended to lower health-insurance costs for millions of Americans, after they expired on Dec. 31.
This is the latest installment in a drawn-out fight over the fate of the tax credits that motivated the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. It also inspired worry about messaging among Republicans and targeted ads against them, eventually dividing the party, with four moderate Republicans jumping on the Democrats’ discharge petition before the holiday recess to force the vote on the House floor.