Sanders urges Democrats to reach out to Trump supporters

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders urged Democrats to reach out to President Donald Trump's supporters to promote a progressive agenda that includes guaranteed health care for all Americans as part of a strategy to rebuild the party. Sanders told a boisterous crowd Tuesday night in Louisville that Trump has reneged on his promises to working-class voters.

Trump’s choice: populism or corporatism

The real division in American politics today is no longer right or left, but rather between populism and an increasingly dominant corporate ruling class. This division is obvious within the Trump administration, elected on a nationalist and populist program but increasingly tilting toward a more corporatist orientation.

One of Trumpcare’s creators has a hard time defending his work back home

Popular Vote Loser Donald Trump just released his first budget,and it is filled with debilitating cuts to social services and... Despite promising to release his tax returns in a televised debate with Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump continues to show that... Rep. Greg Walden , chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is one of the leaders responsible for Trumpcare. There are two committees taking the lead, and one of them is his, and he's been right there in the middle of crafting-if you could call it that-the so-far failed plan.

Trump signs bill allowing states to cut funding to abortion providers

President Donald Trump signed legislation Thursday allowing states to withhold federal family planning dollars from clinics that provide abortion services, a move that effectively deprives Planned Parenthood and several other family groups of a significant source of funding. The move marked the 12th time that Trump has signed a resolution under the 1996 Congressional Review Act abolishing a rule issued under President Barack Obama.

Virginia Republicans Are Wise To Reject Medicaid Expansion

Despite Speaker Paul Ryan's ill-fated attempt at repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, Virginia Republicans recently doubled down on their opposition to the ACA and rejected a proposal by Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe to expand Medicaid. "Every taxpayer should know that we have forfeited $10.4 billion," said McAuliffe at a press conference .

planned parenthood

President Trump quietly signed legislation Thursday that rolls back an Obama-era rule protecting certain federal funds for Planned Parenthood and other organizations that provide legal abortions. That regulation, implemented in the waning days of the Obama administration, required that states pass along family-planning grants - regardless of whether the groups they're passing them along to offer abortion services as well.

Iowa voters credit GOP lawmaker for opposing health bill

Rebuffing President Donald Trump and Republican leaders on the GOP health care bill seemed like a major political misstep for Iowa Rep. David Young, who quickly was punished by a political action committee linked to Speaker Paul Ryan. Nearly three weeks later, voters in Young's southwestern Iowa district - Republicans and Democrats - say the GOP congressman made the right move.

Trump threatens to undermine Obamacare to get Democrats to negotiate

Since the failure of the GOP health care bill in the House nearly three weeks ago, President Donald Trump has suggested letting Obamacare explode to bring Democrats to the negotiating table. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal Wednesday, Trump suggested the federal government would hold back key subsidy payments made to health insurers offering insurance to low-income Americans.

Now, Democrats attack Republicans for failing to protect Obamacare

Interpretation of the news based on evidence, including data, as well as anticipating how events might unfold based on past events "Issa wouldn't protect us from a bill that raises premiums and causes 24 million to lose their insurance." - new "Save My Care" ad attacking Rep. Darryl Issa Seven vulnerable Republican lawmakers are being targeted with $1 million in television spots by a liberal group backed by labor and progressive interests.

Dems: Trump’s tax secrecy complicates legislative overhaul

The Senate's top Democrat said Tuesday that President Donald Trump's refusal to release his tax returns is going to make this year's promised overhaul of the tax code "much harder." Sen. Charles Schumer says Trump is opening himself to second guessing about his motives for supporting different policies and that the average American will think he's making changes because "it's good for him."

New HHS Ocr Director Appointed – a Change in Course for Hipaa Enforcement?

In late March, Roger Severino was appointed to be the new Director of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights , the office responsible for enforcing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act privacy, security, and breach notification rules as well as civil rights laws pertaining to HHS. Mr. Severino replaces Jocelyn Samuels who led HHS OCR from 2014 until her departure from the office earlier this year.

Congressional Republicans takeheat at home on ObamaCare,say priority is avoiding shutdown

Congressional Republicans returned this weekend to their districts to get another earful about ObamaCare, while giving mixed statements about how close they are to replacing the health care law and suggesting that avoiding a looming government shutdown is now the priority. California GOP Rep. Tom McClintock again held a town hall event in which residents expressed concerns about the GOP-led Congress repealing and replacing ObamaCare with more expensive and less comprehensive coverage.

Things to Know: Texas lawmakers turn on corporate incentives

In this April 5, 2017, photo, University of Texas at Austin President Gregory Fenves, left, and Maurie McInnis, UT Executive Vice President and Provost, get up from their chairs at the Capitol after testifying on Senate Bill 2119 in Austin, Texas. less In this April 5, 2017, photo, University of Texas at Austin President Gregory Fenves, left, and Maurie McInnis, UT Executive Vice President and Provost, get up from their chairs at the Capitol after testifying ... more AUSTIN, Texas - Socked by sagging energy prices, Texas lawmakers have less than two months to strike a deal on an austere budget that threatens cuts to everything from higher education to Medicaid.

After 11 months without a buyer, Topeka’s St. Francis Health Center could close

Members of Topeka's medical community say St. Francis Health Center's Denver owners could close the hospital after failing to secure a deal with potential buyers. SCL Health, which has reported financial losses in recent years, placed St. Francis on the market 11 months ago, leaving 1,600 employees increasingly anxious about its future.

What to watch: Texas isn’t alone in rainy day fund fight

The rainy day fund contains $10-plus billion at a time when slumping oil prices have left the state facing a potential $6 billion shortfall just to maintain current spending levels in the 2018-2019 budget the Legislature is now devising. Democrats and Republicans in the House want to spend some of that to forego widespread cuts.