WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. John Katko was among three House Republicans who made history Thursday night when they broke ranks to support changes to House rules proposed by Democrats.

No House member had supported an opposing party's rules at the start of a new Congress in 18 years.

Katko and fellow Republicans Tom Reed, R-Corning, and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., voted for the new rules along with 231 Democrats. Only three Democrats opposed the measure, which passed 234 to 197.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had touted the 60-page resolution as a historic change because it will make it easier for bills to reach the House floor, and allow for more votes on bipartisan bills.

Katko, Reed and Fitzpatrick are members of the Problem Solvers Caucus, a group of 48 House members evenly divided among both parties who have promised to "break the gridlock" in Washington by encouraging bipartisan solutions.

The group says it wants to "weaken the extremists in both parties and give bipartisan ideas a fighting chance to become law."

Katko, R-Camillus, pledged in September that he would not support any candidate for House speaker unless he or she promised to change the rules and make it easier for bipartisan bills to pass Congress.

After the vote Thursday night, Katko said in a statement that he considers the Democratic rules a good start to the 116th Congress.

"Bills with broad support will now be considered quickly and the legislative process will become more transparent," Katko said. "I am hopeful that with these changes, the institution will function in a more bipartisan manner."

Katko said he was encouraged by a change that allows the House to defend protections in the Affordable Care Act for people with pre-existing conditions.

Katko, who began his third term Thursday, previously voted against Republican efforts to repeal the landmark law. The congressman has said any replacement for the law must include health insurance for people with pre-existing conditions.

Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751