US House Breaks Ranks on Trump, Extends Affordable Care Act Subsidies in Historic Vote
In a stunning display of bipartisan cooperation, the US House of Representatives voted to revive tax credits that significantly lowered healthcare premiums under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), despite President Donald Trump's opposition. The 230-196 margin, which saw 17 Republicans join Democrats in support, marked a significant departure from the president's stance on this crucial healthcare issue.
The three-year extension of the subsidies, first created under Joe Biden, was narrowly approved by a group of moderate Republicans who broke ranks with their party leader to defy Trump. The chamber's speaker, Mike Johnson, had strongly opposed the credits, arguing they would facilitate fraud and labeling the landmark 2010 law as the "Unaffordable Care Act". However, this stance ultimately proved ineffective against the determination of lawmakers.
According to Republican congressman Mike Lawler, who voted in favor of the measure, his party will likely revise the bill by the Senate before it is enacted into law. This acknowledges that Senate control lies with Republicans and they may seek to alter or modify the legislation to suit their agenda.
The tax credits are a key battleground for Democrats ahead of the November midterm elections, as they aim to highlight their efforts to protect vulnerable Americans from rising healthcare costs. "The affordability crisis is not a hoax," declared House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, emphasizing that this issue remains a pressing concern for everyday Americans.
Experts warn that without these subsidies, healthcare premiums could roughly double, affecting millions of low-income families relying on the ACA. The party leadership has made addressing high costs and healthcare accessibility a central campaign promise for 2026.
With this historic bipartisan vote, lawmakers have demonstrated an unprecedented willingness to collaborate in pursuit of common goals, particularly as they approach a critical election cycle. However, it remains to be seen whether this fragile consensus will withstand the challenges ahead, particularly from the Senate and the White House.
In a stunning display of bipartisan cooperation, the US House of Representatives voted to revive tax credits that significantly lowered healthcare premiums under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), despite President Donald Trump's opposition. The 230-196 margin, which saw 17 Republicans join Democrats in support, marked a significant departure from the president's stance on this crucial healthcare issue.
The three-year extension of the subsidies, first created under Joe Biden, was narrowly approved by a group of moderate Republicans who broke ranks with their party leader to defy Trump. The chamber's speaker, Mike Johnson, had strongly opposed the credits, arguing they would facilitate fraud and labeling the landmark 2010 law as the "Unaffordable Care Act". However, this stance ultimately proved ineffective against the determination of lawmakers.
According to Republican congressman Mike Lawler, who voted in favor of the measure, his party will likely revise the bill by the Senate before it is enacted into law. This acknowledges that Senate control lies with Republicans and they may seek to alter or modify the legislation to suit their agenda.
The tax credits are a key battleground for Democrats ahead of the November midterm elections, as they aim to highlight their efforts to protect vulnerable Americans from rising healthcare costs. "The affordability crisis is not a hoax," declared House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, emphasizing that this issue remains a pressing concern for everyday Americans.
Experts warn that without these subsidies, healthcare premiums could roughly double, affecting millions of low-income families relying on the ACA. The party leadership has made addressing high costs and healthcare accessibility a central campaign promise for 2026.
With this historic bipartisan vote, lawmakers have demonstrated an unprecedented willingness to collaborate in pursuit of common goals, particularly as they approach a critical election cycle. However, it remains to be seen whether this fragile consensus will withstand the challenges ahead, particularly from the Senate and the White House.
i was worried those tax credits were gonna get axed like for real but 17 republicans showed up & said nope not on our watch 
that means they might try to mess with it a bit but still its better than nothing 
I'm so stoked about this news! It's amazing to see lawmakers putting aside their differences and working together for the greater good. Those tax credits are a total game-changer for people struggling with healthcare costs. I mean, doubling premiums is just not fair - it's like they're taking away people's ability to afford basic care 
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Can't believe those 17 Republicans actually voted with us 
but still, it's crazy to see them stand up for something as important as affordable healthcare 
. It's not like they're going against Trump directly, but still, a win is a win 
and hopefully this sets an example for future bipartisan deals 
. I'm also loving the House Minority Leader's confidence - "The affordability crisis is not a hoax" 
, we need to keep pushing for change 
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. The fact that 17 Republicans were able to find common ground with Democrats is a testament to the growing awareness that healthcare shouldn't be a partisan issue. Of course, this doesn't mean it'll be easy going forward, but every little bit of bipartisanship counts in these tough times 
just when u think politics r too divided, somethin good happens 230-196 is crazy, 17 reps voted w/democrats...guess we might get some affordable healthcare for a bit longer 
Now, fingers crossed that the Senate doesn't mess it up too much 
I'm still worried about those premiums doubling if these subsidies get repealed. Anyone else feeling hopeful about a bipartisan approach to tackling healthcare costs? 
I mean, can you believe Trump was opposing subsidies for people who can't afford healthcare? It's like trying to put a price tag on someone's firstborn child 
. Anyway, 17 Republicans voting with Democrats is like finding common ground over pizza toppings – it might not be perfect, but it's still pretty cool that they're all eating together 
. The Senate better not mess this up or we'll have to send in the healthcare cavalry 
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those were the days! but seriously, it's amazing to see republicans voting with democrats on this one. I guess you could say they're trying to make Healthcare more affordable again 
i mean we gotta keep pushing for change, especially when it comes to healthcare costs. the 230-196 margin is huge btw 
. The party is gonna have a lot on their plates trying to make healthcare more affordable by 2026 
. We need to keep pushing for change and holding our leaders accountable 
It's like a symphony of cooperation - 17 Republicans joined forces with Democrats to pass this bill! 
Mike Lawler from Repubs said they'll probably revise it in Senate, but still, it's amazing to see them putting aside party differences. 
... hope they can keep the momentum going and actually get some real change done 
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... and now it looks like some republicans are starting to listen up 
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. In a world where politics can often be so toxic, it's nice to see folks on both sides coming together to get stuff done 
. But at the same time, we've gotta keep an eye out - if these subsidies do get modified or repealed in the Senate, it could have some serious consequences for people who really need 'em