Author: Erica Werner
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‘Obamacare’ survives; GOP concedes on last-gasp repeal try
WASHINGTON — “Obamacare” lives on. Senate Republicans, short of votes, abandoned their latest and possibly final attempt to kill the health care law Tuesday, just ahead of a critical end-of-the-week deadline. The repeal-and-replace bill’s authors promised to try again at a later date, while President Donald Trump railed against “certain so-called Republicans” who opposed the…
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What happened at dinner? Trump, Dems don’t see eye to eye
WASHINGTON — The fate of 800,000 young immigrants hung in the balance Thursday as top lawmakers, White House officials and President Donald Trump himself squabbled over whether an agreement had been struck to protect them — and if so, exactly what it was. In face of an intense backlash from conservatives inside the Capitol and…
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Democrats say they have deal with Trump on young immigrants
WASHINGTON — The top House and Senate Democrats said Wednesday they had reached agreement with President Donald Trump to protect thousands of younger immigrants from deportation and fund some border security enhancements — not including Trump’s long-sought border wall. The agreement, the latest instance of Trump ditching his own party to make common cause with…
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Trump overrules GOP with deal on spending, debt, Harvey aid
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump briskly overruled congressional Republicans and his own treasury secretary Wednesday to cut a deal with Democrats to keep the government operating and raise America’s debt limit. The immediate goal was ensuring money for hurricane relief, but in the process the president brazenly rolled his own party’s leaders. In deal-making mode,…
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Trump seeks an initial $7.9 billion in Harvey aid
WASHINGTON— President Donald Trump has sent lawmakers an initial request for a $7.9 billion down payment toward Harvey relief and recovery efforts. The request, expected to be swiftly approved by Congress, would add $7.4 billion to rapidly dwindling Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster aid coffers and $450 million to finance disaster loans for small businesses.…
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Trump suggests Senate GOP leader must deliver or step aside
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump escalated a stunning feud against his top Senate partner Thursday, suggesting Majority Leader Mitch McConnell might have to think about stepping aside if he doesn’t deliver on the president’s agenda of health care, taxes and infrastructure. Trump called McConnell’s failure to pass an “Obamacare” repeal last month “a disgrace.” Asked…
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McConnell puts up a ‘skinny repeal’ bill targeting Obamacare
WASHINGTON — Buoyed by a signal from House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell introduced a pared-down health care bill late Thursday that he hoped would keep alive Republican ambitions to repeal “Obamacare.” Votes on the measure were expected deep into the night. McConnell, R-Ky., is calling his bill the Health Care Freedom…
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Senate opens ‘Obamacare’ debate at last but outcome in doubt
WASHINGTON — Prodded by President Donald Trump, a bitterly divided Senate voted, at last, Tuesday to move forward with the Republicans’ long-promised legislation to repeal and replace “Obamacare.” There was high drama as Sen. John McCain returned to the Capitol for the first time after being diagnosed with brain cancer to cast a decisive “yes”…
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Trump blasts Congress over failure of GOP health care bill
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump blasted congressional Democrats and “a few Republicans” Tuesday over the failure of the GOP effort to rewrite the Obama health care law, and warned, “we will return.” Trump’s early morning tweet unleashed a barrage of criticism at Congress over the collapse of the GOP’s flagship legislative priority. For seven years,…
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2 more GOP senators oppose health bill, killing it for now
WASHINGTON — The latest GOP effort to repeal and replace “Obamacare” was fatally wounded in the Senate Monday night when two more Republican senators announced their opposition to the legislation strongly backed by President Donald Trump. The announcements from Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Jerry Moran of Kansas left the Republican Party’s long-promised efforts…