Senate fails to advance Dem healthcare bill after blocking GOP bill

The Senate on Thursday failed to approve a Democratic-led healthcare provision to extend expiring enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.

The vote came ahead of the year-end expiration of the enhanced subsidies and amid a tense partisan battle over healthcare reform.

The Senate voted 51-48 for the proposal, though it needed 60 votes to advance.

Just prior to that vote, the Senate rejected a Republican plan that would have created private health savings accounts in place of the enhanced subsidies.

 The upper chamber rejected the plan in a 51 to 48 vote. It needed 60 votes to advance.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.