Senate Republicans and the White House are facing down an increasingly daunting challenge to secure the votes necessary to pass legislation before the July 4 congressional recess that would make dramatic changes to President Barack Obama’s signature health care law. At least five Republicans have already come out against their party’s bill — which can only afford to lose two votes — and over the weekend more began expressing serious reservations and skepticism about the proposal, saying they would like more time to debate and tweak the plan. A key moment will arrive early this week when the Congressional Budget Office releases an analysis of the bill estimating how many people could lose coverage under the Republican plan, what impact it might have on insurance premiums and how much money it could save the government. The stalled Republican effort to pass a sweeping rewrite of the Affordable Care Act was further threatened Sunday when Republican senators from … [Read more...]

Story highlights The senators reflect different positions in the party Both have criticized the bill Washington (CNN)Two Republican critics of the Senate's health care bill expressed strong doubts Sunday that the legislation can make it through the chamber before the July 4 recess, as the GOP leadership wants. "It's certainly going to be very difficult," Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said on ABC's "This Week" when asked whether the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and President Donald Trump could get her support by week's end. "For my part, I'm very concerned about the cost of insurance for older people with serious chronic illnesses and the impact of the Medicaid cuts on our state governments, the most vulnerable people in our society, and health care providers such as our rural hospitals and nursing homes, most of whom are very dependent on the Medicaid program." Collins, a … [Read more...]

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - The Latest on a century-old sequoia moving to make way for a Boise, Idaho, hospital expansion (all times local): 1:20 p.m. A large sequoia tree with a history rooted in conservation was standing in the way of progress, so on Sunday, it was moved. More than a century after it was sent to Idaho as a sapling by naturalist John Muir, the 10-story tree was shifted across the street to make way for a hospital expansion. The tree reached its new turf Sunday morning. St. Luke’s Health System spokeswoman Anita Kissée says crews started rolling the tree down Fort Street at 1 a.m. Once it reached its destination, crews had a bit of trouble because the inflation tubes that carried the tree were too long for the hole that had been dug. They made the hole bigger and placed the tree in at about 11:15 a.m. ___ 8:50 a.m. A sequoia tree with a history rooted in conservation is standing in the way of progress. The tree was sent to Idaho more than a … [Read more...]

NEW YORK — Matthew Howard Sr. was just leaving a New York amusement park Saturday evening when he heard someone screaming. He looked up to see a young girl dangling about 25 feet off the ground from a slow-moving gondola ride. Her little brother sat next to her in the green two-person pod, crying hysterically for help, saying he couldn't hold on. Howard, 47, and his 21-year-old daughter, Leeann Winchell, positioned themselves under the girl as the ride stopped and security came running. A crowd of onlookers gathered, many filming, others calling for help. "I said: 'It's 'OK! It's OK to … [Read more...]

Story highlights "This is the craziest time I've ever seen in politics," Kasich said "I don't think we have enough leadership," the Ohio governor added (CNN)Ohio Gov. John Kasich delivered a harsh critique of the partisan fight over health care Sunday on CNN, telling "State of the Union" host Dana Bash: "I don't think either party particularly cares about helping poor people." "Both parties ought to be worried about poor people because I don't think either party particularly cares about helping poor people," said Kasich, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination last year, often positioning himself as a moderate seeking bipartisan solutions. "You look at the rates of poverty, the problems in this country. We have not designed a system to get people work. Everything we're talking about now — getting people healthy, giving them health care — is designed to get them … [Read more...]

President Donald Trump on Sunday expressed confidence in his party’s ability to unify to pass a contentious Senate health care bill, saying, "I think we’re going to get there." “I don't think they're that far off. Famous last words, right? But I think we're going to get there,” Trump said during an interview with Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends" that aired on Sunday. “Can't promise. I think we're going to get there.” The president also acknowledged that he was facing some opposition to the bill within the Republican Party and that “honestly, nobody can be totally happy." … [Read more...]

By George W. ReillySpecial to The Journal Veterans visiting the Providence VA Medical Center will have an easier time finding parking due to an arrangement negotiated by state Representatives Camilla F.J. Vella-Wilkinson and Moira Walsh, both members of the R.I. House Veterans Affairs Committee, and Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza.The arrangement allows hospital staff to park on nearby streets that are normally no-parking areas, freeing up a former staff lot for VA patients and visitors. The plan comes in response to concerns voiced by disabled veterans who use the facility. A new garage to expand parking is being built, but its construction is constricting the limited parking available, which became a major issue.To free up parking in the VA lot, hospital staff are allowed, starting today, to park on surrounding streets, and vehicles with stickers will not be ticketed by police. The plan will end when the … [Read more...]

NEW YORK (AP) — DeShawn Stevenson nailed the shot, ran toward the sideline and slapped hands with Ice Cube.Stevenson had a winner, and Cube might, too.The rapper-actor's new 3-on-3 basketball league of former NBA players got off to a strong start Sunday, with the first two games both decided on winning shots.The stands at Barclays Center were well-filled, with entertainers such as LL Cool J and NBA players such as James Harden in the crowd for the first two games before former MVP Allen Iverson, the main attraction among players, took the court following a concert for the third of four games on the day."We're excited to be here in the first weekend of the Big3," said Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler, who coached Power to a 62-58 victory over Tri State on Stevenson's 3-pointer."I think it's going to be incredibly good. The games are … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the Senate Republican health care bill (all times local):3:45 p.m.Texas Sen. John Cornyn says passing a health care bill won't get any easier if Republican leaders delay a Senate vote on the GOP health care plan.The Senate's No. 2 Republican said the Senate is on pace to hold a key procedural vote Wednesday. He said he feels "a sense of urgency" to push forward because the health care system is in "full meltdown mode."Cornyn made the comments Sunday at a private gathering hosted by the libertarian Koch brothers in Colorado.He acknowledged the bill has critics: "Some people have been more public about concerns but said they want to get to yes." He said the vote is "going to be close" and President Donald Trump is "going to be important in the process."___3:25 p.m.President Donald Trump promised to repeal and replace the health care law Republicans deride as "Obamacare."But Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse said … [Read more...]

Caption Close WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has a way of presenting missions as accomplished even when they're not. So it was when he told Iowans he's put farmers back at their plows, secured a historic increase in military spending and empowered homebuilders to swing their hammers again. Those all remain aspirations, not achievements. Trump is also known to propose something already in effect, as when he declared "the time has come" for a welfare moratorium for immigrants. President Bill Clinton signed such a moratorium into law in 1996. A look at a variety of Trump's statements from the public square over the past week: TRUMP: "We're thinking about building the wall as a solar wall so it creates energy and pays for itself. And this way, Mexico will have to pay much less money. And that's good right? ... Pretty good imagination, right? Good? My idea." — in Iowa on Wednesday. THE FACTS: His idea? Others came forward with such proposals back when he was … [Read more...]

MIAMI (AP) — The Chicago Cubs wasted a fine pitching performance by Mike Montgomery, stranding 11 runners and allowing three unearned runs to lose Sunday to the Miami Marlins, 4-2.Edinson Volquez (4-8) gave up five hits and five walks in five innings, but he stranded eight runners and departed with a 3-2 lead.Miami's Ichiro Suzuki, 43, became the oldest player to start in center field since at least 1900, surpassing Rickey Henderson. Suzuki batted leadoff for the first time this year and went 0 for 4, dropping his average to .200.Giancarlo Stanton hit his 20th homer for Miami, a solo shot off reliever Pedro Strop in the seventh.The Marlins scored three unearned runs in the first after Suzuki reached when shortstop Addison Russell bobbled his grounder for an error. Russell left the game in the fourth with a sore throwing … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the Senate Republican health care bill (all times local):3:45 p.m.Texas Sen. John Cornyn says passing a health care bill won't get any easier if Republican leaders delay a Senate vote on the GOP health care plan.The Senate's No. 2 Republican said the Senate is on pace to hold a key procedural vote Wednesday. He said he feels "a sense of urgency" to push forward because the health care system is in "full meltdown mode."Cornyn made the comments Sunday at a private gathering hosted by the libertarian Koch brothers in Colorado.He acknowledged the bill has critics: "Some people have been more public about concerns but said they want to get to yes." He said the vote is "going to be close" and President Donald Trump is "going to be important in the process."___3:25 p.m.President Donald Trump promised … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump may not have the most detailed knowledge of health care policy, but he knows what people hate: High deductibles. Trump has made these complaints about Obamacare, which are shared by many insurance customers … [Read more...]

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A large sequoia tree with a history rooted in conservation was standing in the way of progress, so on Sunday, it was moved.More than a century after it was planted as a sapling in a doctor's yard in Boise, Idaho, the 10-story tree was shifted across the street to make way for a hospital expansion.The tree reached its new turf Sunday morning.Crews started rolling the tree down Fort Street at 1 a.m., said Anita Kissée, a spokeswoman for St. Luke's Health System.Once it reached its destination, crews had a bit of trouble because the inflation tubes that carried it were too long for the hole that had been dug, Kissée said. They made the hole bigger and placed the tree in at about 11:15 a.m. The movers plan to let the tree settle overnight and work on leveling it on Monday, she said. They'll also move a lot of the soil from the original site to help the tree adapt, she said.Here are some things to know about … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the Senate Republican health care bill (all times local):3:25 p.m.President Donald Trump promised to repeal and replace the health care law Republicans deride as "Obamacare."But Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse said Sunday the Senate's current plan to overhaul health care "is not a full repeal or full replace."The Republican lawmaker says, "This is largely a Medicaid reform package."Senate Republican leaders are scrambling for enough votes to approve their health care legislation as soon as this week.Sasse said he's neither finished reading the bill nor taken a position on it.Sasse addressed health care at a private retreat for top donors to the libertarian Koch brothers' political network, which favors full repeal. He was the featured luncheon speaker also attended by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Utah Sen. Mike Lee and Texas Sen. John Cornyn.___11:25 a.m.President Donald Trump is bemoaning what he calls "the level of … [Read more...]

Story highlights Tom Price said the bill is only "part" of the full health care plan He disagreed with Heller, saying the bill will lower premiums Washington (CNN)Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price defended the GOP health care plan Sunday from Republicans opposing the bill. Price said on CNN's "State of the Union" that Nevada Sen. Dean Heller and Gov. Brian Sandoval might misunderstand the full intentions of the party on health care and issued a broad promise to the country. "What I'm telling you is the system, the plan that we would put in place, would not allow individuals to fall through the cracks," Price told CNN's Dana Bash. "We would not pull the rug out from under anybody. We would not have individuals lose coverage that they want for themselves and for their family. We want to make certain that health care is available to all Americans." Price reiterated the … [Read more...]

Story highlights Julian Zelizer: A Republican defeat on the health care bill could be a blessing in disguise Maybe McConnell's plan is to let the bill die so the GOP can finally start to govern, writes Zelizer Julian Zelizer, a history and public affairs professor at Princeton University and a CNN political analyst, is the author of "The Fierce Urgency of Now: Lyndon Johnson, Congress, and the Battle for the Great Society." He's co-host of the "Politics & Polls" podcast. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. (CNN)This week a huge vote is expected on Capitol Hill, where the Senate is set to act on its version of the health care plan unveiled last week by Sen. Mitch McConnell. The plan modifies the House bill, but not by much. It is a tough piece of legislation that would severely undercut President Barack Obama's health care regulations and roll back the … [Read more...]

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) - In hopes of renovating a historic cemetery that lies neglected under dense vegetation, Murfreesboro land owner Bob Davidson decided to use an organic method. He hired goats. “This is the old graveyard. We’re having the Goat Guys comes and clean up some of this,” said Davidson, pointing to tombstones strewn on the ground as dozens of goats hopped up and over them to get the greenery. One of the tombstones belongs to Burrell Gannaway, one of Murfreesboro’s first city leaders who owned a large plantation in what is known as the Barfield Community. The Gannaway cemetery was the topic of a story last year after a local man traced the roots of his slave ancestors back to the family. “The groundhogs kind of messed up the foundation and toppled everything over,” explained Davidson, motioning to the strewn array of stones. “But we’re going to get it cleaned up and we’re going to try to renovate it as much … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON — As as Congress wrangles over implementing a new health care law, Republican and Democratic senators have not agreed on much but there was one area where two lawmakers on opposite sides of the aisle found common ground on the issue on Sunday. Both Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who both have expressed serious reservations with the bill for very different reasons, both proclaimed during exclusive interviews on Sunday's "Meet The Press" that rushing a vote before the July 4th recess would be unwise. “There’s no way we … [Read more...]

Caption Close The Seattle Freeze may be thawing, so look forward to more of this. Here's a look at all the Freeze has done for the city and its residents. What did I miss? Hit me up @levipulk. The Seattle Freeze may be thawing, so look forward to more of this. Here's a look at all the Freeze has done for the city and its residents. What did I miss? Hit me up @levipulk. The Freeze protects us from the third-drink political chat where you realize your views are tediously similar to your new friend’s, and that there’s no way around the “Who is the worst Trump?” conversation. The Freeze protects us from the third-drink political chat where you realize your views are tediously similar to your new friend’s, and that there’s no way around the “Who is the worst Trump?” Don’t go scheduling that dinner party just yet, but the Seattle Freeze may be thawing. The folks who use actual social science to track such things tell us that … [Read more...]