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Democrats See ObamaCare Leverage in Spending Fights

August 14, 2017 Focus Washington

House Democrats want to use the looming battle over government spending and raising the debt limit as leverage to shore up ObamaCare, The Hill reports. The minority party believes Republicans will need their votes on […]

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Trump Vows to Fight Opioid Drug Epidemic

August 9, 2017 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump took on the opioid drug epidemic Tuesday, pledging that “we will fight this deadly epidemic and the United States will win,” Newsmax reports. Trump held a briefing on the matter at his […]

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First Successful Human Embryo Editing Experiment in U.S

August 3, 2017 Focus Washington

Scientists have successfully edited the DNA of human embryos to erase a heritable heart condition that is known for causing sudden death in young competitive athletes, cracking open the doors to a controversial new era […]

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Democrats to Offer ObamaCare Improvements

July 31, 2017 Focus Washington

House Democrats are poised to advance a flood of proposals designed to address the problems dogging former President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law, a move that puts pressure on Republican and Democratic leaders alike, The […]

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Democrats Open Door to Working with GOP on Healthcare

July 29, 2017 Focus Washington

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi extended an offer to work with Republicans on healthcare Friday, less than one day after GOP efforts to repeal and replace ObamaCare failed in the Senate, The Hill reports. “Democrats […]

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McCain Kills GOP’s ObamaCare Repeal Plan

July 28, 2017 Focus Washington

Senator John McCain killed the last-resort Senate Republican healthcare bill in a surprise vote early Friday morning, voting against a pared-down proposal that Republican leaders released only hours earlier, The Hill reports. Voting shortly after […]

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Trump Slams Lawmakers for Voting Down ‘Skinny’ ObamaCare Repeal

July 28, 2017 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump early Friday morning blasted lawmakers for failing to pass the Senate GOP’s “skinny” ObamaCare repeal bill, doubling down on his past call to “let ObamaCare implode”, The Hill reports. “Three Republicans and […]

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Senate Votes Against ObamaCare Repeal Bill

July 28, 2017 Focus Washington

The Senate voted down a scaled-back ObamaCare repeal bill on Friday in a shocking vote that marks a major defeat for Republican leaders and the seven-year effort to repeal the health law. The Senate voted […]

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California Growing too Much Marijuana, Can’t Get Rid of Surplus

July 27, 2017 Focus Washington

California’s marijuana growers are producing far more pot than is consumed in-state, and will be forced to reduce crops under new regulations that ban exports, the Los Angeles Times reports. But some pot farmers will […]

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Senate Rejects Proposal to Repeal and Replace ObamaCare

July 26, 2017 Focus Washington

The Senate rejected a key proposal repealing and replacing ObamaCare on Tuesday night, as senators start a days-long debate on healthcare, The Hill reports. Senators voted 43-57 on a procedural hurdle for the measure that […]

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Unhappy GOP Senators Complain About Healthcare Debate Process

July 25, 2017 Focus Washington

Key senators on Monday expressed unhappiness with the way the healthcare debate has been handled in the Senate on the eve of a critical procedural vote that could bury the Republican measure, The Hill reports. […]

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McCain Returning to Senate for Healthcare Bill Vote

July 25, 2017 Focus Washington

Senator John McCain will return to the Senate on Tuesday after being diagnosed with brain cancer, giving the Republicans push to repeal and replace ObamaCare a boost of momentum, The Hill adds. “Senator McCain looks […]

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GOP Healthcare Bill Faces Numerous Problems ahead of Senate Vote

July 24, 2017 Focus Washington

Senate Republicans plan to vote this week on revised healthcare reform legislation, but a number of serious problems mean that the chances of getting that bill passed are slim to none, The Hill reports. The […]

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Senators Heading towards New Healthcare Vote with no Clear Plan

July 21, 2017 Focus Washington

Senators are rushing towards an ObamaCare repeal vote early next week, although they currently lack the votes, The Hill reports. It’s unclear what they will be voting on next week. The two leading options are […]

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‘Repeal only’ Bill Would Leave 32mn More Uninsured, Congressional Budget Office Says

July 20, 2017 Focus Washington

A legislation that would dismantle large parts of ObamaCare without an immediate replacement would leave 32 million more people uninsured and double premiums over a decade, the Congressional Budget Office said in a report Wednesday, […]

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Congress’ Second Attempt to Pass Healthcare Repeal Bill Fails

July 18, 2017 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump’s top legislative priority was dealt a potentially fatal blow Monday night as two more Republican senators announced their opposition to the party’s healthcare overhaul, Politico reads. Trump quickly called on Republicans to […]

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Poll: Majority of Americans See Healthcare as Most Important Issue

July 17, 2017 Focus Washington

Majority of U.S. citizens see healthcare as the most important issue the country is facing but are doubtful Congress will pass legislation lowering premiums and covering more people, according to a Bloomberg poll released Monday. […]

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Top Senate Republican Vows Vote on Healthcare, but Uncertainty Reigns

July 17, 2017 Focus Washington

A top Senate Republican vowed on Sunday to bring the party’s health care bill to a vote as soon as possible, even as detractors said they would use a delay caused by the absence of Senator John McCain to […]

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Senate Republicans Reveal Revised Healthcare Bill

July 14, 2017 Focus Washington

Senate Republican leaders on Thursday unveiled a revised version of their bill to repeal and replace ObamaCare as they race toward a high-stakes vote next week. The measure includes changes aimed at winning additional votes, with […]

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Republican Leaders Hope to Stage Healthcare Vote Next Week

July 11, 2017 Focus Washington

Senate Republican leaders are hoping to stage a vote on their healthcare bill next week, though internal disagreements over issues like coverage requirements and Medicaid cuts leave the timing and even the measure’s fate in […]

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U.S. And Other G-20 Nations Close to Compromise on Climate

July 7, 2017 Focus Washington

The United States and other major economies are nearing a compromise on climate change, one of the thorniest issues facing world leaders at the G-20 summit in Germany, Politico reports. After days of preliminary talks, […]

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Senate Majority Leader McConnell Casts Doubts about ObamaCare Vote

July 7, 2017 Focus Washington

Acknowledging that Senate Republicans may not be able to pass their ObamaCare repeal legislation, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is warning that action will then have to be taken to stabilize insurance markets, The Hill […]

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Majority Whip Scalise Readmitted to ICU After Three Weeks in Hospital

July 6, 2017 Focus Washington

Representative Steve Scalise has been readmitted to the Intensive Care Unit after 3 weeks of hospital care due to concerns over a new infection, The Hill reports. “Congressman Steve Scalise has been readmitted to the […]

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Senate Republicans Pressure CBO for Better Score on ObamaCare Repeal

July 4, 2017 Focus Washington

Senate Republicans are working the referee as they try to salvage their shot at repealing and replacing ObamaCare, specifically turning up the heat on the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), hoping to get a more favorable […]

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Senator Rand Paul Asks GOP for ‘Clean ObamaCare Repeal’

July 3, 2017 Focus Washington

Senator Rand Paul urged Sunday a “clean repeal” for ObamaCare, deriding a current Senate proposal as one that offers a healthcare law replacement that’s “ObamaCare-lite”, Politico reports. In remarks on Fox News Sunday, the Kentucky […]

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Advocacy Groups to Pressure Republicans on ObamaCare Repeal

July 3, 2017 Focus Washington

Advocacy groups opposing the Senate’s health plan are seizing on a week-long congressional recess to turn up the heat on Republicans. Groups on the left and the right, from Planned Parenthood to Freedomworks, say they […]

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Sanders Says GOP Healthcare Bill is ‘Beyond Obscene’

June 30, 2017 Focus Washington

Senator Bernie Sanders criticized Republicans on Thursday for not holding public hearings regarding their efforts to repeal and replace ObamaCare, saying that they need to find the “courage” to listen to Americans, The Hill reports. […]

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House Panel Passes $696.5bn Defense Policy Bill

June 29, 2017 Focus Washington

The House Armed Services Committee easily passed its $696.5 billion defense policy late Wednesday night. The committee’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed 60-1 and now moves to the full House for […]

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Abuse Victim Support Groups Oppose ObamaCare Repeal Bill

June 28, 2017 Focus Washington

Over 300 non-profit organizations supporting victims of abuse have signed a letter to Senate leadership decrying the “devastating” effects the proposed Republican ObamaCare repeal and replace bill would have on domestic abuse and rape victims, […]

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Senate Republicans Delay ObamaCare Repeal Vote after July 4 Recess

June 28, 2017 Focus Washington

Senate Republicans will head into the July 4 recess without having replaced ObamaCare after deciding on Tuesday to delay the legislation when it became clear it lacked the votes for passage, The Hill reports. Senate […]

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