Category: US Politics

Repair, don’t repeal

After years of demanding a nix and a fix of President Obama’s signature legislation on health insurance, a Republican president and Congress are finally getting their chance. House Speaker Paul Ryan.

Vice president touts choice in Obamacare replacement bill

Vice President Mike Pence says a bill put forth by congressional Republicans earlier this week is “the beginning of the end of Obamacare.” “When you think about the burden that Obamacare has placed on American families and American businesses since it was signed into law in 2010, this represents a historic opportunity for President Trump, our administration and the Congress to keep a promise to the American people,” the vice president said Wednesday as he spoke live with WOOD-TV political reporter Rick Albin from Washington, D.C. Pence said the plan would “lower the cost of health insurance by giving the American people more choices, including buying health insurance across state lines.”

EPA head stacks agency with climate change skeptics

Days after the Senate confirmed him as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt appeared at the Conservative Political Action Conference and was asked about addressing a group that probably wanted to eliminate his agency. “I think it’s justified,” he responded, to cheers.

Trey Gowdy: Only Trump or DOJ Can Release Any Wiretap Data

No evidence has been released to support President Donald Trump’s claims he was wiretapped by his predecessor, because either “there is no evidence, or it could be a judicial matter,” Rep. Trey Gowdy said Wednesday. “It could be that it’s under seal” with the secret court created by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the South Carolina Republican told Anderson Cooper on CNN .

Trump Courts Cruz in WH Dinner to Help Grease AHCA

President Donald Trump appears to be courting former foe Sen. Ted Cruz, hoping the Texas conservative can rally support for the GOP House leadership’s healthcare plan. The president and first lady Melania Trump hosted Cruz, his wife Heidi, and their two daughters for dinner at the White House on Wednesday night a family friendly event that is a stark contrast to the bitter clashes between Trump and Cruz during their primary presidential race.

New Lupus Medical Research Program Included in Appropriations Bill…

Demonstrates the Power of Patient Advocacy NEW YORK, NY — Lupus patients will have a new medical research program at work for them in the future if Bill H.R. 1301 passed today by the House of Representatives becomes law. The House approved the Fiscal 2017 Defense Appropriations Conference Report which designates $5 million for new peer-reviewed lupus research under the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program operated by the Army Medical Research and Materiel Command in Ft.

Ryan disappoints his friends with Obamacare replacement bill

Exclusive – Sen. Rand Paul on Paul Ryan’s Obamacare Lite : Speaker ‘Trying to Pull the Wool Over the Eyes of the President’ – Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), a top conservative in the U.S. Senate, unloaded on House Speaker Paul Ryan’s Obamacare 2.0 replacement plan – that does not repeal Obamacare

10 Things to Know for Thursday

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. speaks during a news conference at the Republican National Committee Headquarters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 8, 2017, as the GOP works on its long-awaited plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

Trump SEC Pick Made Millions Representing Banks, Hedge Funds

President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission has earned $7.62 million since 2015 representing some of Wall Street’s biggest firms, including Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Capital Management, according to a federal disclosure form. Jay Clayton, the Sullivan & Cromwell partner tapped by Trump, outlined his clients — and his potential conflicts — in a filing to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics that he signed in January.

Trump will push Obamacare repeal by sending out his top salesman: Himself

President Donald Trump plans a “full-court press” as he begins an uphill battle to sell the Republicans’ long-awaited bill to repeal the landmark 2010 health care law. Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Cabinet secretaries and other administration officials plan to travel the nation and give interviews to local radio and television stations to promote the bill, which was introduced this week.

Source: Jon Huntsman offered job of ambassador to Russia – Wed, 08 Mar 2017 PST

President Donald Trump has offered former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman the position as U.S. ambassador to Russia, a high-profile and sensitive post amid investigations into the contacts between Russian officials and the Trump campaign. Trump made the offer to Huntsman earlier this week, according to a White House official not authorized to discuss the move publicly until it is announced.

Trump said no longer likes WikiLeaks, has long feared wiretaps

When WikiLeaks published the hacked emails of Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager last year, then-candidate Donald Trump had one thing to say: “I love WikiLeaks.” But there wasn’t a lot of love from the Trump administration Wednesday, after WikiLeaks published thousands of documents described as secret files about CIA hacking tools.

The Guardian’s Flawed Hit Piece On Sessions’ Record As a U.S. Attorney

The Guardian attacked Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ record when he served as a U.S. attorney in Alabama in an article published Saturday that was missing important details. The article – ” ‘Gun for hire’: how Jeff Sessions used his prosecuting power to target Democrats ” – alleged that Sessions used his power as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Alabama to go after local Democratic politicians.

The Guardian’s Flawed Hit Piece On Sessions’ Record As a U.S. Attorney

The Guardian attacked Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ record when he served as a U.S. attorney in Alabama in an article published Saturday that was missing important details. The article – ” ‘Gun for hire’: how Jeff Sessions used his prosecuting power to target Democrats ” – alleged that Sessions used his power as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Alabama to go after local Democratic politicians.

Trump news today: What you need to know on March 8

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with pharmaceutical industry representatives at the White House in Washington, U.S. on January 31, 2017. U.S. President Donald Trump meets with pharmaceutical industry representatives at the White House in Washington, U.S. on January 31, 2017.

Ivanka Trump’s fashion line sees soaring sales

Ivanka Trump’s fashion line sees soaring sales Despite a boycott, Ivanka Trump’s fashion line soared in online sales last month Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/2m3BIFc Despite a boycott and a decision by Nordstrom to no longer carry the brand, Ivanka Trump’s fashion line soared in online sales last month, according to a major e-commerce site. Trump’s brand was in 11th place based on the number of items sold, according to Lyst, a fashion search engine that links shoppers with more than 12,000 retailers and designers.

Ivanka Trump’s fashion line sees soaring sales

Ivanka Trump’s fashion line sees soaring sales Despite a boycott, Ivanka Trump’s fashion line soared in online sales last month Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/2m3BIFc Despite a boycott and a decision by Nordstrom to no longer carry the brand, Ivanka Trump’s fashion line soared in online sales last month, according to a major e-commerce site. Trump’s brand was in 11th place based on the number of items sold, according to Lyst, a fashion search engine that links shoppers with more than 12,000 retailers and designers.

Oil Companies Land a Victory in Louisiana Coastal Lawsuit

A federal appeals court on March 3 refused to revive a Louisiana levee board’s lawsuit blaming dozens of oil and gas companies for damage to the state’s fragile coast, a major victory for energy companies and their political supporters who cast the suit as an attack on a vital state industry. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling upheld a federal judge’s 2015 decision in favor of energy companies that argued the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East lacked legal standing to bring its damage claims, which could have cost the oil companies billions of dollars.

Sen. Tim Kaine’s son arrested protesting President Trump

U.S. Sen Tim Kaine’s 24-year-old son had to be wrestled to the ground on Saturday, when officers arrested him and four others during a protest against President Trump in Minnesota. Sen. Tim Kaine’s son arrested protesting President Trump U.S. Sen Tim Kaine’s 24-year-old son had to be wrestled to the ground on Saturday, when officers arrested him and four others during a protest against President Trump in Minnesota.

CarlsonCast March8–6am hour

Obama said in 2015, instead of calling it ObamaCare Lite we suggest you call the Republican plan to reverse the ACA a “rough draft”, Senate Democrats in Olympia use a sneaky tactic to avoid voting on a state income tax.

More

The Latest on the health care debate as Congress begins work on a GOP-drafted overhaul : In the day’s first vote on Republican health care legislation, GOP lawmakers controlling the House Ways and Means Committee have blocked a Democratic attempt to delay the panel’s work for a week. Texas Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett said there’s been little time to understand what’s in the legislation.

WikiLeaks CIA Files: Are They Real and Are They a Risk?

A supporter of WikiLeaks founder julian Assange holds a copy of The WikiLeaks Files outside the Ecuadorian embassy in central London, Britain Feb. 5, 2016. WikiLeaks has published thousands of documents that the anti-secrecy organization said were classified files revealing scores of secrets about CIA hacking tools used to break into targeted computers, cellphones and even smart TVs.

SEC nominee Clayton vows separation from his Wall Street law firm

Wall Street attorney Jay Clayton, President Donald Trump’s pick to head the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, has vowed to recuse himself from agency matters involving his law firm and former clients, according to an ethics agreement made public on Wednesday. Under the agreement, the Sullivan & Cromwell attorney will not participate in SEC matters involving the firm for one year.

Women go on strike in US to show their economic clout

Organizers of the January Women’s March are calling for women to take the day off and enco… . FILE – In this Jan. 21, 2017 file photo, Gloria Steinem, center right, greets protesters at the barricades before speaking at the Women’s March on Washington during the first full day of Donald Trump’s presidency, in Wa… The mother of a slain Pennsylvania state police trooper says she is seeking a measure of justice for her son when his alleged killer stands trial.

FBI Director Comey at cyber conference: ‘You’re stuck with me’

FBI Director James Comey listens as he is thanked for speaking at the Boston Conference on Cyber Security at Boston College in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., March 8, 2017. FBI Director James Comey said on Wednesday he has no plans to step down any time soon, days after he reportedly pushed back against President Donald Trump’s allegations that the Obama administration had tapped his phones during the 2016 election.

The Wall Street Journal: Obama furious over Trump tweets accusing him …

The rapport between Barack Obama and Donald Trump is unraveling, with the president convinced that Mr. Obama is undermining his nascent administration and the former president furious over Trump tweets accusing him of illegal wiretapping, people close to the two men said. The budding feud between two men who share the unique bond of membership in the commander-in-chiefs’ club is a fresh distraction in a Trump presidency that has been struggling to enact its agenda.

UN chief: Funding, support needed for AU troops in Somalia

Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin says it’s important for Congress to act quickly to extend a program aimed at widening veterans’ access to private-sector health care. Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin says it’s important for Congress to act quickly to extend a program aimed at widening veterans’ access to private-sector health care.

Questions for the candidates –

The Union Times Do you have questions for the candidates running for the Republican nomination for the US House of Representatives Fifth District seat? If you do then you can submit them to be asked of the candidates during Friday’s debate in the USC Union Auditorium either via email at [email protected] or in person prior to the debate which begins at 7 p.m. The debate is sponsored by the Union County Young Republicans and the Union County Republican Party. It will be preceded by a 6 p.m. meet and greet with the candidates on the Main Floor of USC Union’s Main Building.

House panels to launch fight in Congress over Obamacare replacement

A potentially lengthy U.S. legislative fight over replacement of the Obamacare health law gets underway on Wednesday as two House of Representatives committees begin negotiating over changes to a Republican plan backed by President Donald Trump. Both Democrats and Republicans are expected to try to reshape legislation that dismantles key provisions of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, Democratic former President Barack Obama’s signature domestic policy achievement.