House approves ACA subsidies extension; Alford explains ‘no’ vote

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The U.S. House of Representatives passed an extension of expired Affordable Care Act subsidies Thursday -- the same subsidies that led to the longest-ever government shutdown last year.

The House passed the legislation 230-196, with many Republican members defecting to join Democrats to approve the bill. Not among them was Rep. Mark Alford (R-Raytown), who represents parts of Mid-Missouri, including areas of Columbia and Boone County.

"Extending this broken system without reforms would cost taxpayers more than $90 billion while hiding the true cost of Obamacare at a time when the U.S. government already spends more per capita on health care than any other developed nation," Alford wrote in a statement posted on social media. "Instead of continuing to enrich insurance companies at the expense of patient care, we should fix what's broken and lowering care costs instead of expanding wasteful government spending."

The issue was forced to the floor after members signed a petition to force House Speaker Mike Johnson to put the bill to a vote. It now goes to the Senate.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill would increase the country's deficit by about $80 billion over a decade, but would provide insurance coverage for millions of people.

None of Missouri's six Republican House members voted for the bill.