Boy Scout leader apologizes for Trump’s political rhetoric

The Boy Scouts' chief executive apologized Thursday to members of the scouting community who were offended by the aggressive political rhetoric in President Donald Trump's recent speech to the Scouts' national jamboree. The apology came in a statement from Chief Scout Executive Michael Surbaugh, three days after Trump's speech to nearly 40,000 scouts and adults gathered in West Virginia.

GOP eyes narrow bill to advance goal on “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. WASHINGTON - They couldn't pass a repeal of "Obamacare," or find the votes for a White House-backed replacement.

Trump transgender ban nod to Christian conservatives

His agenda stalled and his party divided, President Donald Trump veered into the nation's simmering culture wars by announcing plans to ban transgender people from serving in the military. Much of the political world - prominent conservatives and Trump administration officials, among them - was surprised and confused by the president's sudden social media pronouncement.

Will: GOP squanders chance to lead on budget, entitlements

In January 1988, in Ronald Reagan's final State of the Union address, he noisily dropped on a table next to the podium in the House chamber three recent continuing resolutions, each more than a thousand pages long. Each was evidence of Congress' disregard of the 1974 Budget Act.

Senate rejects proposal for Obamacare repeal

Republicans demonstrated they do not have the stomach to repeal Obamacare when it really counts, as the Senate voted 55-45 to reject legislation undoing major portions of Barack Obama's law without replacing it. Seven Republicans joined all Democrats in rejecting an amendment by Rand Paul of Kentucky that would have repealed most of former president Obama's health care law, with a two-year delay but no replacement.

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.

Senate measure to repeal Obamacare fails

With the failure Wednesday afternoon of the 2015 House bill that would just repeal the Affordable Care Act , Congress' two best chances to scrap Obamacare in one fell swoop dissipated before senators' eyes. That amendment, which also contained a provision to delay the implementation of a repeal by two years to allow lawmakers to come up with a replacement system, failed 45-55, with seven Republicans joining their Democratic colleagues in opposition.

President Trump to address American Legion young leaders

President Trump will deliver remarks at the White House Wednesday afternoon to the American Legion Boys Nation and Auxiliary Girls Nation, two groups in which young men and women are acting as "senators" for their respective states and participating in a mock lawmaking processes. Earlier this week, Mr. Trump addressed another group of young leaders : the Boy Scouts of America.

Pence’s $1 million fundraiser featured Ivanka Trump

In this image from video provided by C-SPAN2, the final Senate vote, with Vice President Mike Pence's vote, to start debate to tear down much of the Obama health care law, Tuesday, July 25, 2017, on the floor of the Senate on Capitol Hill in Washington. In this image from video provided by C-SPAN2, the final Senate vote, with Vice President Mike Pence's vote, to start debate to tear down much of the Obama health care law, Tuesday, July 25, 2017, on the floor of the Senate on Capitol Hill in Washington.

McCain votes for Obamacare repeal debate – ” but blasts – bombastic loudmouths’

US senator John McCain has criticised "bombastic loudmouths" who "don't want anything done for the public good" as he cast a crucial vote in the Republican drive to repeal so-called Obamacare. In a speech to his Senate colleagues, Mr McCain condemned the tribal politics gripping the nation as the Republican party attempts to uproot former president Barack Obama's signature healthcare law.

Trump administration cuts short anti-teen pregnancy grants

Dozens of teen pregnancy prevention programs deemed ineffective by President Donald Trump's administration will lose more than $200 million in funding following a surprise decision to end five-year grants after only three years. The administration's assessment is in sharp contrast with that of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which credited the program with contributing to an all-time low rate of teen pregnancies.

US Vice President Pence breaks tie as Senate votes to debate healthcare bill

US Vice President Mike Pence had to break a 50-50 tie as the Senate voted by a hair to start debating Republican legislation to tear down much of the Obama healthcare law. The vote gives President Donald Trump and Republican leaders a crucial initial victory but launches a week-long debate promising an uncertain final outcome.

Louisiana’s US senators support start of health care debate

Louisiana's two U.S. senators were among the Republicans who agreed to start debating legislation to undo much of Barack Obama's health care law. The votes Tuesday from Sens. Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy helped Republicans reach the 50 votes - with Vice President Mike Pence as the tiebreaker - needed to move ahead with a weeklong debate and a long list of amendments.