New Proposal Scrambles GOP Health Care Push

"Conservative groups are aggressively backing Mike Lee and Ted Cruz in their bid to move the Senate Republicans' Obamacare repeal bill further to the right, setting up a major confrontation between the party's warring factions next week," Politico reports. "On Wednesday afternoon both FreedomWorks and the Club for Growth urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to adopt an amendment from Sens. Cruz of Texas and Lee of Utah that would largely gut Obamacare's regulatory regime.

Cruz’s health plan could cripple the market

One set of policies would contain all of the Obamacare protections, including covering those with pre-existing conditions, offering all 10 essential health benefits and limiting consumers' financial exposure. The other plans would not have to adhere to these rules, allowing them to offer less comprehensive policies at a cheaper price.

Cruz gets an earful in McAllen for July Fourth

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz , R-Texas, waded into this Democratic stronghold Tuesday to celebrate the Fourth of July -- and predictably got an earful from protesters, many upset with the Senate's efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare. Cruz, who has a knack for confrontation with his political opponents in Washington and far outside it, had to speak over the demonstrators for most of his speech at an Independence Day ceremony, twice pausing to address the commotion.

Cotton to GOP: ‘You’re Too Weak to Do What You Should Do’

Frustration is boiling over for congressional Republicans who, despite a majority in both Houses, have failed to pass meaningful legislation, Politico reported. The latest founder was the Senate's version of healthcare that stalled this week when leaders postponed a vote until after July 4 recess, leading to this sharp critique from Republican Sen. Tom Cotton: "You're too weak to do what you should do," the Arkansas senator told colleagues at a White House powwow, according to Politico.

Darling discusses Ted Cruz visit, meets with protestors; Hinojosa to lead parade

Protestors stand in opposition to Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz's upcoming Fourth of July visit at McAllen City Hall during the June 26, 2017 City Commission meeting. Mayor Jim Darling meets with protestors before heading into executive session at the McAllen City Commission meeting on June 26, 2017.

Schumer: McConnell trying to ‘coerce’ GOP healthcare holdouts with ‘buyouts and bailouts’

The comments came just as the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the bill would leave an additional 22 million uninsured compared to Obamacare and reduce the deficit by $321 billion over a 10-year period. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday that he expects Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to "coerce" Senate Republicans into backing the party's latest healthcare bill with "bailouts and buyouts."

Koch brothers’ political network critical of Senate healthcare bill

As growing opposition imperiled passage of the Senate version of the healthcare bill, leaders of the conservative Koch network voiced sharp criticism of the legislation at their donor retreat here -- stating that the bill needed dramatic changes before they would support it. The Koch network announced Saturday that they plan between $300 and $400 million on their political and policy objectives during the 2018 political cycle as Democrats wage an intense battle to win control of the House.

Students warn of stifled speech on college campuses

Zachary Wood, a rising senior at Williams College, and Isaac Smith, a student at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, appeared before the committee at a hearing titled "Free Speech 101: The Assault on the First Amendment on College Campuses." As the president of "Uncomfortable Learning," Wood faced backlash for his student organization inviting controversial speakers to campus, like conservative commentator John Derbyshire.

Senate steers toward showdown vote next week on health bill

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., joined by, from left, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., and Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks following a closed-door strategy session, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 20, 2017. Sen. McConnell says Republicans will have a "discussion draft" of a GOP-only bill scuttling former President Barack Obama's health care law by Thursday.

Electoral cyberattack, Paxton’s new judge, American’s leg room: Your Tuesday evening news roundup

Russia's cyberattack on the U.S. electoral system before Donald Trump's election was far more widespread than has been publicly revealed , including incursions into voter databases and software systems in almost twice as many states as previously reported. In Illinois, investigators found evidence that cyber intruders tried to delete or alter voter data.