In a rare show of bipartisan cooperation, four Republican senators — including two facing tough reelection battles — crossed party lines on Thursday to support a Democratic proposal to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies for another three years.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) joined all 47 Senate Democrats in voting to advance the measure, spearheaded by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
Despite the crossover support, the legislation failed to reach the 60 votes needed to move forward, falling short at 51–47 as most Republicans opposed the plan.
A Key Vote Ahead of 2026 Elections
Collins and Sullivan — both up for reelection in 2026 — were under particular scrutiny as Democrats look to flip GOP-held seats to retake control of the Senate.
Collins had kept her position private until the vote, noting earlier in the week that her team was still reviewing the Democratic proposal. On Monday, she introduced her own bipartisan bill with Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), offering a two-year extension of the enhanced subsidies but limiting eligibility to households earning under $200,000. Their plan would also require low-income ACA enrollees to pay at least $25 per month in premiums.
Murkowski and Hawley have likewise emphasized the need for marketplace reforms amid rising healthcare costs.
Alternative GOP Proposal Also Fails
Earlier the same day, the four Republicans also supported a separate proposal by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). Their measure would shift funding for enhanced ACA subsidies into health savings account (HSA) contributions, helping people cover out-of-pocket expenses on ACA plans.
This plan also failed to advance.
‘We Need Every Tool on the Table,’ Hawley Says
Sen. Josh Hawley argued that the rising cost of premiums requires multiple policy solutions, not a single legislative fix.
“I’m really an all-of-the-above approach kind of guy,” he said. “We need to do everything we can to bring down the cost of premiums. If you talk to people, they’re going to say their health care costs are out of control.”
Hawley expressed openness to supporting several plans — even those that never made it to the Senate floor.
