Ossoff, Warnock break with Democrats on bill to pay essential workers during shutdown

Sen. Jon Ossoff (Ga.), the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent in the Senate, and his home-state colleague, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), voted Thursday for a Republican bill to pay essential federal workers, including members of the military, during the government shutdown.

Ossoff and Warnock joined Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) in voting for the Republican bill. The measure failed to advance on a 54-45 vote. It needed 60 votes to move forward.

Ossoff’s and Warnoc...

Federal judge strikes Biden-era ban on transgender care discrimination

A federal judge on Wednesday struck down a former President Biden-era rule that extended federal health antidiscrimination protections to transgender health care. 

Judge Louis Guirola Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi ruled in favor of a coalition of 15 GOP-led states that sued over the rule, which broadened sex discrimination by adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected characteristics in certain health pro...

Watch live: Jeffries gives remarks on Day 23 of government shutdown

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is speaking with reporters Thursday afternoon as the lapse in government funding persists.

Senate Democrats on Wednesday blocked the latest vote to reopen the government, standing their ground on demands for an extension of health care subsidies to be included in any stopgap funding plan. The upper chamber also failed to advance legislation that would guarantee pay for members of the military and essential workers as the impass...

Johnson: Greene accusation that GOP ‘sitting on the sidelines’ is ‘absurd’

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Wednesday shot back at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) over an accusation that their party is “sitting on the sidelines” during the shutdown fight and as subsidies under the Affordable Care Act are set to expire.

“Well, bless her heart, that's an absurd statement," Johnson told CNN's Kaitlan Collins when asked about Greene's remarks.

"Obviously, these conference calls are monitored by media, so we're not going to have act...

Medicare agency recalling thousands of furloughed staffers for open enrollment

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is temporarily calling back all furloughed staff starting next week, a spokesperson confirmed Thursday. 

Open enrollment for traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans began Oct. 15, while the federal Affordable Care Act marketplace starts Nov. 1. 

According to the Department of Health and Human Services shutdown plan, 47 percent of CMS staff have been on furlough since gover...

Government shutdown showdown takes a new turn 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) may be a prophet without honor. In mid-March, when Congress voted to fund the government for the remainder of fiscal 2025, Schumer and nine Democratic colleagues joined all but one Republican senator to provide sufficient votes (more than 60) to overcome the ongoing filibuster threat.  

While Schumer and all but two of his Democratic colleagues then voted against the continuing resolution, it still had more than t...

Live updates: Democrats vote down bill to pay some federal workers amid shutdown

The Senate on Thursday failed to approve a bill which would pay some federal employees, including service members, as the government shutdown stretches into its fourth week. 

The plight of military families has been central to the GOP’s shutdown strategy, and Republican leaders hoped to put Democrats on the spot with the bill sponsored by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.). 

The upper chamber will not take up the House-passed funding bill to reopen the federal go...

ObamaCare price jump hits Idaho first as shutdown deal remains elusive

Idaho consumers are getting the nation's first look at price increases hitting Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans as the federal tax credits that helped to trigger a government shutdown expire.

Idaho’s marketplace open enrollment began Oct. 15, as the future of enhanced premium tax credits remains in limbo. Marketplace customers will see markedly higher premiums than last year if the credits are not extended. 

“On average, gross premiums, or the overall c...