Senate to Unveil Health Bill
After weeks of secrecy, US Senate to unveil health-care bill. CNBC: "U.S. Senate Republicans plan to unveil the text of their draft health-care bill on Thursday as senators struggle over issues such as the future of the Medicaid program for the poor and bringing down insurance costs. Republicans in the chamber have been working for weeks behind closed doors on legislation aimed at repealing and replacing major portions of the Affordable Care Act."
The senate is close to a health care bill, but do Republicans have the votes? NYT: "The 52 Republican senators have been meeting several times a week behind closed doors to develop a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. At least 50 of them must be on board for the bill to pass, and they could try as soon as next week... Most senators want to make sure that people with pre-existing conditions are protected, but over all, they have different priorities. The fate of the health care bill could ultimately be decided by a handful of senators."
Trumpcare might pass, but the conservative health-care agenda is dead. New York Magazine: "Why did Republicans suddenly decide to get health care done fast, not right? There is a larger point here than hypocrisy and broken promises. A short period of examination yielded the same conclusion in the Senate as the House: Republicans have realized their party is constitutionally incapable of writing a satisfactory health-care law. Whether the Republican health-care law passes or fails, an entire policy agenda has died in the process."
GOP Wins Special Elections
GOP wins special elections in GA, SC. Politico: "Five months into Donald Trump’s presidency, five closely-watched races. And Republicans aren’t any worse off for all the chaos, controversy and low poll ratings that have defined Trump’s tenure. After special election wins in Kansas, Montana, and finally the most expensive House race ever in Georgia on Tuesday, the GOP ends the opening stretch of Trump’s presidency confident that Democrats’ plans of a grand comeback have yet to get off the ground."
After four special-election losses, Democrats need more than moral victories. LA Times: "Democrats are claiming “moral victories” after losing two special congressional elections in heavily Republican districts. Those results from votes in Georgia and South Carolina on Tuesday follow two other moral victories — also known as losses — in battles for House seats in Montana in May and Kansas in April. Many more results like these and the Democratic Party will be out of business."
Russia Redux
House Russia probe digs into voter roll hacks with former DHS secretary. CNN: "House investigators will examine on Wednesday Russia's attempts to hack into state elections systems with former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson before the House intelligence committee. 'In 2016 the Russian government, at the direction of (Russian President) Vladimir Putin himself, orchestrated cyberattacks on our nation for the purpose of influencing our election - plain and simple. Now, the key question for the president and Congress is: What are we going to do to protect the American people and their democracy from this kind of thing in the future?'"
More from OurFuture.org:
GE’s Immelt Steps Down: ‘Meanness and Greed’ Win Again. Sam Pizzigati: "Jeffrey Immelt, General Electric's retiring CEO, once decried the ways corporate America outrageously rewards 'meanness and greed.' As he steps down with a $211 million bonus, he's become his own worst nightmare."
