GOP senator calls for new rules to more quickly confirm Trump nominees

Ron Johnson GOP senator calls for new rules to more quickly confirm Trump nominees ObamaCare repeal: Now what? McCain casts crucial vote to kill 'skinny' ObamaCare repeal MORE called for a change in Senate rules to speed up the confirmation of President Trump's executive nominations, claiming the slow pace of confirmations was a result of "a breakdown in the Senate." "Less than a month from the August recess, the Senate has confirmed only 22 percent of those nominated to serve in the Trump administration.

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care coverage is "still under threat," despite the Senate failing early Friday to pass legislation that would have repealed parts of former President Barack Obama's health care law.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.

The Latest: Seoul, Washington to talk over missile limits

Wisconsin landed the much coveted Foxconn plant, but now the rust belt state needs to produce more highly skilled workers than those employed in the factories of the past. Wisconsin landed the much coveted Foxconn plant, but now the rust belt state needs to produce more highly skilled workers than those employed in the factories of the past.

Pakistan ruling party meets to consider PM successor

Pakistan's Supreme Court in a ... Wisconsin landed the much coveted Foxconn plant, but now the rust belt state needs to produce more highly skilled workers than those employed in the factories of the past. Wisconsin landed the much coveted Foxconn plant, but now the rust belt state needs to produce more highly skilled workers than those employed in the factories of the past.

Congress’ message to Donald Trump is tough

Even by the standards of Donald Trump's presidency, this week has been extraordinarily chaotic and, more importantly, disastrous for the President's agenda. Just hours before Senate Republicans failed to choke the life out of the health care program known as Obamacare - a top domestic priority for the administration - the entire Senate, Democrats and Republicans, voted on imposing new Russia sanctions, effectively tying the President's hands on dealing with that country.

Russia to seize US properties in retaliation over sanctions

The Russian Foreign Ministry demanded Friday that the United States cut its diplomatic staff in Russia and said it would seize two US diplomatic properties in a sharp response to a new sanctions bill the US Congress passed a day earlier. The order -- which affects the US Embassy in Moscow and consulates in St Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok -- would reduce US diplomatic and technical staff to 455, the same number Russia has in the United States, by September 1. Russia also is suspending the use of a US storage facility in Moscow and a country house, or dacha, outside Moscow by Tuesday.

McCain, fighting cancer, turns on GOP and kills health bill

Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, is pursued by reporters early today after casting a "no" vote on a measure to repeal parts of former President Barack Obama's health care law, on Capitol Hill in Washington. [CLIFF OWEN/ASSOCIATED PRESS] Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, is pursued by reporters early today after casting a "no" vote on a measure to repeal parts of former President Barack Obama's health care law, on Capitol Hill in Washington.

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."

Balance of Power: What’s Plan C for Republicans?

The Republicans have no one to blame but themselves. In control of Congress and the White House, the party suffered a major defeat early this morning in its effort to roll back Obamacare, falling one vote short. John McCain went from hero to spoiler, after his dramatic return to Washington following a brain cancer diagnosis salvaged the bill by giving Republicans enough support to get the measure to the floor.

‘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."

The vote Mitch McConnell couldn’t win

If anyone could have resuscitated the troubled Obamacare repeal and replace bill, it was Mitch McConnell, the steady and disciplined Senate Majority Leader with a track record of getting really tough things done. But after years of pleading, months of negotiating, and weeks of just barely edging the contentious bill forward, it suddenly died.

GOP seeks support for narrow version of “Obamacare” repeal

The Republican-run Senate has rejected a GOP proposal to scuttle President Barack Obama's health care law and give Congress two years to devise a replacement. Addressing the National Federation of Independent Business, Vice President Mike Pence said the Senate has "an opportunity and an obligation" to repeal and replace Obamacare.