U.S. House, in surprise vote, advances healthcare tax credits extension

The U.S. House voted on Thursday, in a stunner, to pass legislation to extend ACA health insurance tax credits for three years, sending the measure to the U.S. Senate, where, who knows.

The vote was 230-196 in favor, with 17 House Republicans – none of them ours here in Virginia – joining the 213-member House Democratic Caucus.

I’m not seeing anything on this from our local MAGA in Congress, Ben Cline, who has been active today sharing his thoughts on eliminating a $200 tax on gun suppressors, which he called “outdated.”

We can’t get rid of Ben Cline soon enough.

Meanwhile, among the sane:

“Extending the ACA tax credits has always been an imperative,” said Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., who represents the 10th House District, in Northern Virginia, in the House. “We cannot allow health insurance premiums to skyrocket when families are already facing high costs. This vote should have happened months ago, but instead House Republican leadership decided they would rather shut down the government than save health care.”

Estimates from both sides have 4 million Americans set to lose their health insurance if the tax credits are discontinued.

“The three-year extension offers a lifeline for those forced into choosing between whether to keep paying for health care, food on the table or other basic necessities,” said Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Va., who represents the Fourth District, the Richmond area, in the House.

“They are small business owners, the self-employed, farmers, gig workers and more — many of whom reported skyrocketing premiums, sometimes more than double what they paid in 2025. After Republicans devastated our health care system by passing the Big Ugly Law, this extension of the ACA tax credits could literally save lives,” McClellan said.