How Congress could pass Obamacare changes now, or change the filibuster rules

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., was one of three GOP senators to join Democrats in voting down the Senate leadership's "skinny repeal" of the Affordable Care Act on July 28, 2017. Sen John McCain, R-Ariz., leaves the Senate chamber after a vote on a stripped-down version of Obamacare reform on July 28, 2017.

‘World is Watching’ Trump tweet to senators: Figure out health care plan

President Trump on Sunday urged Senate Republicans to continue to try to overhaul ObamaCare, telling them "the world in watching." Trump suggested after the Republican-controlled Senate failed last week in several attempts to repeal and replace ObamaCare that he was OK with allowing the 2010 health care law to collapse as a result of its own problems.

Letters: What do the Democrats stand for?

Re: "What does the Democratic Party stand for?" [Opinion, July 25]: First a history lesson. Coming of political age in April, June and those hot August nights 1968, and again May 1970, I will tell you what Democrats stood against: The war, the draft, soldiers being denied voting rights because they were under 21, minorities being denied voting rights because they were not white, "All the Presidents Men," racial and socioeconomic oppression, voter suppression, violations of human rights anywhere and everywhere around the world.

Chuck Schumer

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, July 28, 2017, after the Republican-controlled Senate was unable to fulfill their political promise to repeal and replace Obamacare. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, July 28, 2017, after the Republican-controlled Senate was unable to fulfill their political promise to repeal and replace Obamacare.

Trump threat: End health payments unless there’s an overhaul

President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened once more to end required payments to insurance companies unless lawmakers repeal and replace the Obama-era health care law. In apparent frustration over Friday's failure by the Senate Republican majority to pass a bill repealing parts of the Affordable Care Act, Trump tweeted: "If a new HealthCare Bill is not approved quickly, BAILOUTS for Insurance Companies and BAILOUTS for Members of Congress will end very soon!" Repeal-and-replace has been a guiding star for Republicans ever since President Barack Obama enacted the law in 2010.

Health care rally planned at Connecticut state Capitol

Opponents of Republican efforts to overhaul the Affordable Care Act, including Connecticut's U.S. Senators, are set to rally at the state Capitol. Jane McNichol, organizer of the Protect Our Care CT campaign, says rally-goers will meet Saturday to express concerns that health care coverage is "still under threat," despite the Senate failing early Friday to pass legislation that would have repealed parts of former President Barack Obama's health care law.

‘Time to move on’ from health care, Senate GOP leader says

The resounding Senate crash of the seven-year Republican drive to scrap the Obama health care law has led to finger-pointing but also has left the party with wounded leaders and no evident way ahead on an issue that won't go away. In an astonishing cliff-hanger, the GOP -run Senate voted 51-49 on Friday to reject Majority Leader Mitch McConnell 's last ditch attempt to sustain their drive to dismantle President Barack Obama 's health care overhaul with a starkly trimmed-down bill.

FDA Targets Cigarettes in Broadening of Fight Against Addiction

Eight years after it was given the power to meaningfully change smoking in America, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration moved to do so. Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act -- a law enacted under a Democratic Congress and then-President Obama -- to cut the level of nicotine in cigarettes to nonaddictive levels.  "A lot of people have been thinking about this for a long time, including experts in the agency, including myself," FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in an interview with Bloomberg on Friday.

House moves to extend choice program, end VA budget crisis

The House overwhelmingly approved a $3.9 billion emergency spending package to address a budget shortfall at the Department of Veterans Affairs that threatens medical care for thousands of veterans. The bill provides $2.1 billion to continue funding the Veterans Choice program, which allows veterans to receive private medical care at government expense.

Top Story’Obamacare’ repeal reeling after Senate defeat

Dealing a serious blow to President Donald Trump's agenda, the Senate early Friday rejected a measure to repeal parts of former President Barack Obama's health care law after a night of high suspense in the U.S. Capitol. Unable to pass even a so-called "skinny repeal," it was unclear if Senate Republicans could advance any health bill despite seven years of promises to repeal "Obamacare."

‘Obamacare’ repeal reeling after Senate defeat new

Dealing a serious blow to President Donald Trump's agenda, the Senate early Friday rejected a measure to repeal parts of former President Barack Obama's health care law after a night of high suspense in the U.S. Capitol. Unable to pass even a so-called "skinny repeal," it was unclear if Senate Republicans could advance any health bill despite seven years of promises to repeal "Obamacare."