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...]

The Donald Trump Pentagon, in so many words, is saying that the Obama administration’s decision to waive punitive sanctions and buy combat helicopters from Russia was a bad deal. The Pentagon’s first congressionally required report on Afghanistan under President Trump says the Russian Mi-17 chopper has proved a failure in the long war and will be phased out in favor of American-made UH-60 Black Hawks. The Obama administration came to realize the failure in its last weeks in office and stopped the deal. The report this month on “Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan” marks official confirmation that the Russian model broke down too often for the Afghan air force logistics system to keep up. “Along with the increased expense and difficulty in maintaining the Mi-17 helicopter fleet, utility helicopters are in high demand and the required maintenance exceeds current capacity and capability, leading to maintenance backlogs and a reduced number … [Read more...]

President Trump promised to shake up Washington, but he’s following at least one swampy tradition by nominating wealthy political allies and campaign donors to cushy ambassador posts. While presidents typically dole out about 30 percent of U.S. ambassadorships to political appointees, Mr. Trump through Friday had awarded 14 of his first 19 ambassador posts to political nominees rather than career foreign service professionals. They include San Diego hotelier Doug Manchester, nominated for the very pleasant assignment of ambassador to the Bahamas. Mr. Manchester was one of Mr. Trump’s early political backers; he and his wife, Geniya, each gave $454,800 to political committees supporting Mr. Trump’s campaign. George E. Glass of Oregon, founder of Pacific Crest Securities, is Mr. Trump’s choice to become ambassador to Portugal. He donated $33,400 to the Republican National Committee in July 2016 and gave $22,500 to Mr. Trump’s inaugural committee. … [Read more...]

The IRS is about to launch yet another digital system designed to spot “frivolous” tax returns after the last several systems let too many bogus claims through, according to a recent tax audit released this month. The tax agency had thought it had solved the problem when it moved to a new system in 2012, but there was a major drop in the number of frivolous tax claims flagged. Employees eventually figured out the new system was missing a number of bogus claims. So they went back to the original system — one the agency initially had said was too time consuming. Yet the agency’s inspector general said the IRS is still missing a number of frivolous tax claims, either because employees aren’t trained well enough to spot them or because the dollar threshold for investigating is too high. The IRS insists it has a new system ready for the upcoming filing season that will finally set things right. “Our review identified that the IRS’ processes … [Read more...]

Story highlights Sen. Sanders' supporters said hacked DNC emails showed the party favored Clinton in the presidential primary Former Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook, a CNN political commentator, said Trump should address threats to US elections Trump's tweet comes as Congress and special counsel Robert Mueller probe Russia's efforts to influence the US election (CNN)President Donald Trump lashed out at Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party in a tweet Sunday morning, saying the former secretary of state "colluded" with the party in the presidential primary to defeat Sen. Bernie Sanders. "Is she allowed to so collude?" the President asked. "Unfair to Bernie!" Hillary Clinton colluded with the Democratic Party in order to beat Crazy Bernie Sanders. Is she allowed to so collude? Unfair to Bernie!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 25, 2017 The … [Read more...]

Story highlights Tillerson: "There are significant areas which provide a basis for ongoing dialogue" Arab countries cut ties with Qatar, accusing the Gulf state of supporting terrorism (CNN)Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Sunday encouraged Qatar and the Arab countries boycotting it to meet and resolve a diplomatic row that has put its Gulf allies at odds. The request comes two days after the boycotting countries delivered a list of 13 demands to Doha and told the government it has 10 days to comply in order to restore ties with its neighbors. "Qatar has begun its careful review and consideration of a series of requests presented by Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and UAE," said Tillerson. "While some of the elements will be very difficult for Qatar to meet, there are significant areas which provide a basis for ongoing dialogue leading to resolution." The Arab countries cut ties … [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...]

(CNN)Ohio Governor John Kasich's website was hacked Sunday, displaying what appeared to be pro-ISIS propaganda. Visitors to governor.ohio.gov were greeted with a black background and an Arabic symbol while an Islamic call to prayer played in the background. "You will be held accountable Trump," text on the landing page said, "you and all your people for every drop of blood flowing in Muslim countries." "I Love Islamic state," it said. A group calling itself Team System DZ, apparently hacked numerous state websites, including first lady Karen Kasich's website and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections website. Those pages displayed the same message that Kasich's did. In addition to the pro-ISIS language, a line appeared on each page that said "Hacked by Team System DZ." Read More It was not immediately clear who the group was or whether it was genuinely affiliated with ISIS. Kasich's staff said Sunday that … [Read more...]

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey lawmakers’ effort to legalize marijuana has failed to convince Gov. Chris Christie to get behind the change, meaning it will be on the state’s next governor to decide the issue. Christie ridiculed a hearing last week in the Democrat-led Senate on new legislation making its way through the statehouse to legalize marijuana as a “dog-and-pony show.” “I’m not changing my mind on that,” said Christie, a longtime opponent of legalizing marijuana. New Jersey voters go to the polls Nov. 7 to pick the term-limited Republican’s successor and a major issue that the Democrat-led Legislature is punting to the next governor will be marijuana legalization. Democratic nominee Phil Murphy has come out in favor of legalization, highlighting in particular the potential for up to $300 million in new revenue from taxes on marijuana sales. Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, the GOP nominee, isn’t as definitive in stating her … [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...]

President Trump said Sunday that the left’s “resist” campaign has backfired on Democrats by saddling them with a “terrible theme” that voters are rejecting. “That’s a terrible word. Think of it. Their theme is ‘resist.’ Their theme should be, ‘Let’s get together. Envelop. Let’s get together,’” Mr. Trump said in an interview aired Sunday on “Fox & Friends.” “But their theme is resist. It’s obstruction. And the problem is they’ve become obstructionist.” “And the voters — I happen to like it from the standpoint of running for office, but I think it’s a terrible theme in terms of getting elected, and more importantly, I think it’s a terrible theme for the people of this country,” the Republican president said. “Resist. Obstruction. That’s not what they want.” The ongoing resistance effort, manifested in regular … [Read more...]

PHOENIX (AP) - A group of Arizona House lawmakers is launching an effort aimed at cutting the soaring costs to communities of police and fire pensions, with its leader warning that cities could end up declaring bankruptcy if legislators fail to act. The new committee announced by House Speaker J.D. Mesnard comes just over a year after 70 percent of voters approved changes to the state’s public safety pension plan designed to return it to solvency in 20 years. The voter approval and separate legislative overhauls to the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System, known as PSPRS, couldn’t address current costs because the state Constitution bans cuts to promised pensions. Instead, they established less generous and lower-cost pensions for new hires and changed how current cost-of-living increases are calculated, a switch intended to stabilize the system over time. Republican Rep. Noel Campbell of Prescott said he understands the difficult task ahead but believes the … [Read more...]

Story highlights "Well, he actually used my term, 'mean.' That was my term," Trump said of Obama. Obama took to Facebook on Thursday to speak out against the Senate bill, calling it 'mean.' Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump accused former President Barack Obama of stealing his terminology when Obama said last week that there was a 'fundamental meanness' at the core of the Republican health care bill. During an interview on "Fox and Friends" Sunday morning, Trump was asked about Obama's Facebook post condemning the Republican health care plan, and the President responded by saying Obama used the descriptor after he originally did. "Well he actually used my term, 'mean.' That was my term," Trump said. "Because I want to see -- and I speak from the heart -- that's what I want to see, I want to see a bill with heart." When White House press secretary Sean Spicer was asked about … [Read more...]

Story highlights Schiff said he disagreed with Obama's handling of Russia's attempts to influence the election He said Obama's decision was due to political factors Washington (CNN)The top Democrat on the House intelligence committee said Sunday he believed the Obama administration should have taken bolder action in response to intelligence reports about Russia's efforts to influence the 2016 election. "I think the Obama administration should have done a lot more when it became clear that not only was Russia intervening, but it was being directed at the highest levels of the Kremlin," Rep. Adam Schiff said on CNN's "State of the Union." The California Democrat said in the lead-up to the presidential election that both he and Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, a top Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee, repeatedly pressed the administration to speak out about Russia's … [Read more...]

The 2016 presidential contest was awash with charges that the fix was in: Republican Donald Trump repeatedly claimed that the election was rigged against him, while Democrats have accused the Russians of stacking the odds in Trump's favor. Less attention was paid to manipulation that occurred not during the presidential race, but before it — in the drawing of lines for hundreds of U.S. and state legislative seats. The result, according to an Associated Press analysis: Republicans had a real advantage. Related: U.S. Supreme Court Takes Up Racial Gerrymandering The AP scrutinized the … [Read more...]

Sen. Rand Paul, one of the GOP holdouts on the Senate health care bill, said Sunday he would be willing to support a partial rollback of Obamacare, saying he might even vote for an 80 percent repeal. “If they cannot get 50 votes, if they get to impasse, I’ve been telling leadership for months now I’ll vote for a repeal,” the Kentucky Republican said on ABC’s “This Week.” “And it doesn’t have to be 100 percent repeal,” said Mr. Paul. “So, for example, I’m for 100 percent repeal, that’s what I want. But if you offer me 90 percent repeal, I’d probably would vote it. I might vote for 80 percent repeal.” Mr. Paul, one of four Senate conservatives who oppose the Better Care Reconciliation Act in its current form, said would change his mind “if they change their approach.” “Why don’t we whittle it down to what the whole caucus agrees on?” said Mr. Paul. “I … [Read more...]

Former Sen. Rick Santorum predicted that the Republican health care bill will pass the Senate with exactly 50 votes, saying the measure has enough “core Republican doctrine” to satisfy conservatives even if moderates reject it. At least five Senate Republicans have expressed opposition the bill in its current form to repeal and replace Obamacare, but Mr. Santorum said he believes the conservatives would change their minds. “There really isn’t a reason for those four conservative Republicans not to figure out a way to get to yes,” said the ex-Pennsylvania senator and conservative standard-bearer on CNN’s “State of the Union.” He cited the bill’s changes to funding, saying that “there’s enough reforms in there, there’s enough tax deductions, there’s enough transferring wealth out of Washington for conservatives.” “The block grant on Medicaid is the same huge … [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...]