WASHINGTON -- The Senate on Thursday rejected legislation to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, essentially guaranteeing that millions of Americans will see a steep rise in costs at the beginning of the year.

After Republicans and Democrats have failed to find compromise, senators voted on two partisan bills instead that they knew would fail -- the Democratic bill to extend the subsidies, and a Republican alternative that would have created new health savings accounts.

It was an unceremonious end to a monthslong effort by Democrats to prevent the covid-19-era subsidies from expiring on Jan. 1, including a 43-day government shutdown that they triggered over the issue.

Ahead of the votes, Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer of New York warned Republicans that if they did not vot

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