Four Republican senators joined a Democratic-led effort to extend Affordable Care Act health insurance premium subsidies, which failed in the upper chamber on Thursday. CBS News' Taurean Small reports.

Washington

The U.S. Senate recently rejected two competing bills aimed at extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year. Four Republican senators joined Democrats in supporting the extension, but the measure did not reach the 60-vote threshold required to advance.

With the Senate bills failing, the matter now shifts to the House, where proposals range from a two-year extension of subsidies to a broader healthcare system overhaul. If no agreement is reached, approximately 20 million Americans who rely on the ACA for health insurance could face significant premium increases in the coming year.

These Republicans joined Democrats on health subsidies bill

This healthcare showdown on Capitol Hill. The Senate rejected a pair of competing bills yesterday that would have provided a path forward after Affordable Care Act subsidies expire at the end of the year. Four Republicans sided with Democrats on their version, but it still wasn't enough to reach the 60 vote threshold to further the bill. Without a new agreement, 20 million Americans using the Affordable Care Act for health insurance could see steep price hikes. Let's jump now to CBS News Congressional Reporter Torian Small, who connects with us once again from Capitol Hill. So, Torian, for folks just joining us now, explain how yesterday's vote unfolded and if there's any hope for a future agreement. Yeah, so there were two what's known as side-by-side bills that went to the floor. This is part of an agreement to reopen the government. Republican leadership promised moderate Democrats who decided to reopen the government that there would be a vote on these healthcare subsidies. The problem was there was no guarantee that there would be Republican support. Ultimately, what happened, largely down party lines, both failed, except, as we saw in that graphic, four Republicans joining with Democrats to try to support their effort in extending this COVID-era subsidies. And just a reminder to our viewers what that was, it would, it capped subsidies, or sorry, it capped premiums at about 8.5% of household incomes. So a significant increase is set to happen at the start of next year if an action proceeds. I wanna point out among those four Republicans that we saw there, Josh Hawley was really one that was surprising. It wasn't something that was completely out of left field. He said that he's been receiving calls from constituents, but ultimately, though, both of those plans failed. And now it's up to the House to see what they could get done. But Torian, is the House likely to get an agreement on anything next week? Yeah, I mean, I'm not too confident, but I'm a bit of a pessimist anyway, especially considering I've covered Congress since 2018. I know how this goes down. We talked a lot about the short-term extensions and whether or not that could be on the table right now. What's been proposed by a Republican, one Republican, Brian Fitzpatrick, as part of a discharge petition is an extension for two years, so not quite three that Democrats have been pushing for. But leadership in House Speaker Mike Johnson is looking for a legislative package that, in his word, to be an overhaul to the healthcare system, not necessarily a placating of what Democrats want in that extension of those tax subsidies. He did acknowledge, though, that he's hearing from his members more now that they are interested in action on that. He says that there could be an amendment process, but he's still looking to move his legislative package to the bill, or to the floor, next week in order to get something done, even if it were to clear the House. They're still the Senate, and Senate Democrats, as it stands, are unhappy with the way things are headed as we have just one week left of a full work week here on the Hill before the New Year will end. Maybe less of a pessimist and more of a realist since you've seen how these things tend to unfold. Dorian Small, thank you so much. Enjoy your weekend when you get there.

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