- House votes to revive Affordable Care Act subsidies.
A Democrat bill to revive enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies for three years passed in the House Thursday with the help of 17 Republicans.
Although the subsidy extension is expected to die in the Senate, the vote does put pressure on the upper chamber to try to come to a bipartisan agreement that likely would include GOP-backed changes to the aid.
Driving the news: The House approved a "clean" three-year extension of the subsidies, without any changes.
The effort, led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), came to a vote after four House Republicans in December signed a Democratic discharge petition to force the matter, going around Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
GOP leadership opposes the extension of the subsidies, arguing they are wasteful spending that benefits insurance companies.
While a bipartisan group of senators is discussing a compromise measure that could include new limits on the subsidies, like eliminating $0 premiums, Democratic leaders in the upper chamber are still pushing for the clean extension.
Between the lines: President Trump has not been heavily engaged in the congressional discussions, leaving Republicans on the hill to try to work out their differences without much guidance from the White House.
The Senate on Thursday voted in favor of blocking President Trump from taking further military action in Venezuela without congressional approval after the U.S. captured the country's leader, Nicolás Maduro.
Why it matters: Enough Republicans broke with Trump to advance the war powers resolution — a rare and notable rebuke of the president — even as most of the GOP stands behind the operation in Venezuela.
The Senate voted 52-47 in favor of the measure, led by Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), and backed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
Five Republicans — Paul, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Todd Young of Indiana and Josh Hawley of Missouri — joined Democrats in backing the measure.
Senate Republicans last year rejected similar resolutions blocking Trump's campaign of airstrikes against alleged drug boats off the coast of Venezuela. More than 100 people have been killed in those strikes.
What's next: Thursday's vote was procedural but indicates there's enough support in the Senate to pass the resolution, which is expected to happen next week.
It would then still need to be considered by the House.
The White House has said Trump would veto the measure.
