Report: Higher premiums if Trump halts ‘Obamacare’ subsidies

People buying individual health care policies would face sharply higher premiums, and some may be left with no insurance options if President Donald Trump makes good on his threat to stop "Obamacare" payments to insurers, congressional experts said Tuesday. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office also estimated that cutting off the payments would add $194 billion to federal deficits over a decade.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell

A week after an attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act failed, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he'd consider a bipartisan effort to continue payments to insurers to avert a costly rattling of health insurance markets. McConnell told reporters Saturday there is "still a chance" the Senate could revive the measure to repeal and replace "Obamacare," but he acknowledged the window for that is rapidly closing.

McConnell Willing to ‘Take a Look’ at Bipartisan Health Care Bill

A week after an attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act failed, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he'd consider a bipartisan effort to continue payments to insurers to avert a costly rattling of health insurance markets. McConnell told reporters Saturday there is "still a chance" the Senate could revive the measure to repeal and replace "Obamacare," but he acknowledged the window for that is rapidly closing.

Senator announces bipartisan health care hearing on Obamacare

Several Republican and Democrat lawmakers agree that Congress needs to prevent a collapse of the health insurance market, which could hurt millions of consumers - and that concern has opened up some bipartisan dialogue. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, said the Senate health committee will hold bipartisan health care hearings on how to repair the individual market.

The Latest: Cornyn raises possibility of working with Dems

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." In this July 27, 2017, file photo, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas talks to reporters as heads to the Senate on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Records: Student-loan forgiveness has halted under Trump

The U.S. Education Department has not approved any applications for student-loan forgiveness in cases of possible fraud since President Donald Trump took office, according to records sent to an Illinois senator. Democratic Sen. Richard Durbin released those records Wednesday and blasted the department for its inaction and for a June decision to delay and rewrite Obama-era rules that would have made it easier for students to get loans forgiven if they were deceived by their schools.

Report: Higher premiums if Trump halts Obamacare subsidies NEW

Premiums for a popular type of individual health plan would rise sharply, and more people would be left with no insurance options if President Donald Trump makes good on his threat to stop Obamacare payments to insurers, the Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday. The nonpartisan number crunchers also estimated that cutting off payments that now reduce copays and deductibles for people of modest incomes would add $194 billion to federal deficits over a decade.

Congress must stop soft ‘earmarking’ in Pentagon spending bill

Sometime on Sunday the House Appropriations Committee released its "Chairman's Mark" of the Fiscal Year 2018 spending bill for the Pentagon. And late Monday night the Defense subcommittee met in closed session to produce the opening salvo in the Pentagon spending battle.

VA warns of surprise budget gap, insists no delays in care

The Department of Veterans Affairs warned Wednesday it was unexpectedly running out of money for a program that offers veterans private-sector health care, forcing it to hold back on some services that lawmakers worry could cause delays in medical treatment. It is making an urgent request to Congress to allow it to shift money from other programs to fill the sudden budget gap.

Senate confirms Scott Gottlieb as FDA commissioner

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Dr. Scott Gottlieb as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration despite Democratic questions about his financial ties to medical companies the agency regulates. Gottlieb is a physician-turned-health consultant who has criticized many FDA regulations as unnecessary and has faced criticism from Democrats over his financial entanglements.

GOP congressman: Republicans were ‘irresponsible’ to celebrate AHCA passage at White House

A 15-year-old boy left a suicide note before he was killed by officers after pointing a BB gun at them in a high school parking lot in the dark, police said Monday. Making matters worse, the House plan would kill off the individual mandate's requirement that all Americans buy health insurance, which could lead more young and healthy men and women to go without.

Senate confirms Gottlieb as FDA commissioner

In this April 5, 2017 file photo, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner-designate Dr. Scott Gottlieb testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. The Senate is on track to confirm Gottlieb as the head of the Food and Drug Administration.

Senate approves $1.2tn government spending bill to avoid shutdown

Budget Director Mick Mulvaney is insisting the budget deal that will keep the government running until September is a win for the White House, despite complaints from President Trump. "They wanted a shutdown", Mulvaney said of Democrats.

Sen. Patty Murray will oppose Neil Gorsuch for Supreme Court

Image Judge Neil Gorsuch speaks after President Trump nominated Gorsuch to be an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court at the White House in Washington D.C. on Jan. 31 Schumer said Gorsuch failed to convince him he would be "an independent check on a president who has shown nearly no restraint from executive overreach" or that he would be a neutral justice "free from the biases of politics and ideology".

Trump’s Labor nominee Acosta says he’ll advocate for workers

Labor Secretary nominee Alexander Acosta says he will work with Congress to address the need for good, safe jobs and to provide American workers with the training they need to get them. "Whether it is those who are working, those who still seek work, those who are discouraged or underemployed, or those who have retired, if confirmed as secretary of labor, I will advocate for them," Acosta said in prepared remarks.

US Labor nominee Acosta says he’ll advocate for workers

Labor Secretary nominee Alexander Acosta says he will work with Congress to address the need for good, safe jobs and to provide American workers with the training they need to get them. "Whether it is those who are working, those who still seek work, those who are discouraged or underemployed, or those who have retired, if confirmed as secretary of labor, I will advocate for them," Acosta said in prepared remarks.

Trump’s labor nominee likely to be asked about Florida case

In this July 30, 2008 file photo, Jeffrey Epstein is shown in custody in West Palm Beach, Fla. Labor Secretary nominee Alexander Acosta is expected to face questions at his Senate confirmation hearing about an unusual plea deal he oversaw for Epstein, a Florida billionaire and sex offender, as U.S. attorney in Miami.