Trump administration will no longer defend the Affordable Care Act in court

The Trump administration declared that it will no longer defend the Affordable Care Act from a challenge filed by 20 states in a brief filed Thursday night because it agrees that the law's individual mandate is unconstitutional and that key parts of the act - including the provisions protecting those with pre-existing conditions - are invalid. President Trump has long declared the ACA, also known as Obamacare, to be a "disaster" and the brief is the latest attempt by his administration to weaken President Barack Obama's signature health-care law.

Pruitt aide resigns after she describes personal errands

Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt laughed off questions about whether he used his office to try to help his wife get a "business opportunity" with Chick-fil-A, while a close aide abruptly resigned amid new ethics allegations against her boss. Pruitt said in a statement Wednesday that his scheduling director, Millan Hupp, 26, had resigned.

EPA head laughs off Chick-fil-A questions; senior aide quits

Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt laughed off questions Wednesday about whether he used his office to try to help his wife get a "business opportunity" with Chick-fil-A, while a close aide abruptly resigned amid new ethics allegations against her boss. Pruitt said in a statement that his scheduling director, Millan Hupp, 26, had resigned.

Grassley: The Judiciary System Has a Sexual Harassment Problem

A new report , originally ordered by Supreme Court Justice John Roberts and released by the Administrative Office of U.S. Courts , exposes a number of sexual harassment issues and general incivility inside the U.S. Court system. "On December 20, 2017, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., asked the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to establish a working group to examine the sufficiency of the safeguards currently in place within the Judiciary to protect all court employees from inappropriate conduct in the workplace," the report states.

Deep Thoughts: Can a President Actually Pardon Himself?

I'm admittedly a bit mystified that this question is being openly discussed by the president's team, but here we are. The "issue" was thrust into the open over the weekend, when presidential lawyer Rudy Giuliani took the media's bait and speculated in real time -- you could almost see the thought bubble over his head -- over the question on live television.

Daily on Healthcare: Schumer signals healthcare at center of Democrats’ midterm strategy

SIGN UP! If you'd like to continue receiving Washington Examiner's Daily on Healthcare newsletter, SUBSCRIBE HERE: Schumer signals that healthcare will be central to Democrats' midterm strategy. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is calling on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to use the August work period to expand Obamacare .

Is North Carolina Ready to Take Marijuana Reform Seriously?

Since taking his oath of office in 2009, N.C. Rep. Kelly Alexander, Jr. has filed a marijuana-related bill in the North Carolina General Assembly six times - and six times those bills have languished in committee, failing to make it to the House floor for a debate, much less a vote. That count includes Alexander's most recent bill, House Bill 994, bluntly titled "Reform Marijuana Laws," filed on May 23 during the General Assembly's short session.

Vowing to ‘Padlock Revolving Door’ in DC, Warren Teases New Anti-Corruption Legislation

"Change is coming," Sen. Elizabeth Warren declared Tuesday at a War on Regulations symposium hosted by the Coalition for Sensible Safeguards and Georgetown University Law School. In her live-streamed speech, Warren revealed plans to introduce anti-corruption legislation to protect the American public from the Trump administration's corporate-friendly deregulatory agenda.

Scott Pruitt asked his government aide to help with wife’s bid

'He was a scumbag': Arizona 'serial killer' slammed the Jon-Benet Ramsey psychiatrist for helping his ex-wife's divorce case against him and criticized the criminal justice system in bizarre YouTube rants Dark side of life on a superyacht: It's the dream of countless young people to see the world working on the boats of the rich but the reality can be slave conditions and even mysterious deaths for which no one is held responsible Scott Pruitt used his government aide to ask the boss of Chick-Fil-A to meet his wife because she wanted to run a franchise location EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt sought to buy a used version of a mattress that retails for a $1,399 for a Queen size and $1,750 for king-sized version She told investigators she also booked personal flights for Pruitt and searched for a D.C. apartment for him, at times during government hours Pruitt is under investigation for ... (more)

EPA staffer ran errands for Pruitt, looked into buying mattress from Trump hotel

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt testifies before a Senate Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on the proposed budget estimates and justification for FY2019 for the Environmental Protection Agency on Capitol Hill last month.

State AGa s lawsuit wona t fix Obamacare a ” we need a health care solution that works for everyone

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is wasting his time and state taxpayers' money by joining 15 other Democratic attorneys general in a desperate effort to preserve Obamacare, says Columnist Dr. Roger Stark of the Washington Policy Center. Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is wasting his time and state taxpayers' money by joining 15 other Democratic attorneys general in a desperate effort to preserve Obamacare, says Columnist Dr. Roger Stark of the Washington Policy Center.

Aide: EPA’s Pruitt sought used Trump-hotel mattress Source: AP

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Aide: EPA’s Pruitt sought used Trump hotel mattress

In this file photo, Scott Pruitt, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, left, and President Donald Trump are shown in the Rose Garden of the White House on June 1, 2017, when Trump announced the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris climate pact. less In this file photo, Scott Pruitt, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, left, and President Donald Trump are shown in the Rose Garden of the White House on June 1, 2017, when Trump announced the ... more In this Nov. 14, 2017 file photo, Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., questions Attorney General Jeff Sessions during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Let’s Get Rid of The Ethanol Mandate, Not Reform It

In recent months, a number of proposals have been put forward to reduce the cost and complexity of complying with the Renewable Fuels Standard that requires American oil refiners and importers to blend biofuels, mainly corn ethanol, into gasoline and diesel fuel. Established more than a decade ago as part of two pieces of energy legislation, the RFS mandates that the Environmental Protection Agency set a blending target for ethanol each year.

PNC Financial Services Group Inc. Lowers Holdings in iShares Barclays 7-10 Year Trasry Bnd Fd

PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lessened its stake in iShares Barclays 7-10 Year Trasry Bnd Fd by 9.5% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 270,389 shares of the exchange traded fund's stock after selling 28,268 shares during the quarter.