Four Republican senators, including two vulnerable incumbents who are up for reelection next year, broke ranks Thursday and voted for a three-year extension of enhanced health insurance premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) all voted for the Democratic proposal, which was introduced by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.).
They joined all forty-seven Democrats in voting to advance the measure, which failed to reach the 60-vote threshold necessary to move forward. The motion to proceed to the measure failed 51 to 47. The vast majority of Republican senators voted against the measure.
Collins and Sullivan are up for reelection in 2026, and Democrats are targeting their seats in hopes of picking up four GOP-held seats to win back control of the Senate.
Collins had played her cards close to the vest before the vote, telling reporters that she wanted her staff to take a close look at the Democratic proposal before taking a position on it.
https://shorturl.fm/GrXC5