politics

The Republican tax plan is in trouble

News, politics, ron-johnson, susan-collins

Republicans desperately need to pass tax reform. After multiple failed attempts at repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, Republicans in Congress have to prove they can get something done, especially when their party controls the White House and both chambers of Congress.

On Wednesday, Senate Republicans announced they will attempt to repeal the individual mandate that requires Americans to be covered by health insurance in order to pay for the massive corporate tax cut &#...

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Trump to nominate former pharmaceutical executive to head Health and Human Services

Donald Trump, health care, News, politics

President Trump will nominate former pharmaceutical executive Alex Azar as his Health and Human Services secretary, the president tweeted Monday morning.

“Happy to announce, I am nominating Alex Azar to be the next HHS Secretary,” Trump tweeted. “He will be a star for better healthcare and lower drug prices!”

Happy to announce, I am nominating Alex Azar to be the next HHS Secretary. He will be a star for better healthcare and lower drug prices!

&md...

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In 24 hours, the Republican National Committee completely changed its tune about Virginia

Donald Trump, News, politics

Republican National Committee (RNC) chairwoman Ronna McDaniel was in damage control mode on Wednesday morning, insisting that Democrat Ralph Northam’s victory in Virginia over Ed Gillespie was just business as usual — despite saying yesterday that the RNC was “all in” on Virginia.

“Ed’s finishing strong, he’s putting forward a positive vision for Virginia,” McDaniel told Fox’s Harris Faulkner on Tuesday. “The President̵...

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Brown, queer, transgender, and not Christian: Meet the new wave of progressive lawmakers

lgbtq, News, politics, religion

Tuesday night was historic. Amid high turnout across Virginia, New Jersey, Washington, and elsewhere, voters elected a range of progressive candidates, many whose victories signify the first time queer and transgender people, communities of color, and religious minorities will be represented in office.

Here are a few of the next wave of diverse U.S. lawmakers.

Danica Roem, Virginia

Manassas Park Democrat Danica Roem triumphed over one of Virginia’s most socially conserv...

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Election night’s silver cloud for progressives has a lead lining in Ohio

health care, medicaid, News, politics

Voters rejected a proposal aimed at slashing prescription drug prices for Ohio’s 3 million Medicaid recipients on Tuesday by a 4-to-1 margin after pharmaceutical companies raised about $60 million for ads and organizing against the measure.

The measure would likely have incurred a legal battle had it passed. It mandated that Medicaid bean-counters pay the same prices that drug companies offer to Veterans Affairs beneficiaries, without specifying how exactly the low-income heal...

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Maine embraces Obamacare, votes to expand Medicaid to 70,000 low-income people

Affordable Care Act, health care, medicaid, News, politics

Tens of thousands of low-income people previously locked out of affordable coverage got good news tonight.

Voters in Maine elected to expand the Medicaid program, which offers health insurance to low-income people. Before this ballot measure’s success, the state’s legislature repeatedly tried to expand Medicaid, but Gov. Paul LePage (R) issued five different vetoes blocking the legislation.

The Medicaid expansion is a major provision of the Affordable Care Act, bu...

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Trump tried to explain his tax plan. It was a disaster.

Donald Trump, News, politics

Addressing reporters in the White House on Wednesday, President Trump tried to explain how he plans to shepherd his tax cut plan through Congress. As was the case during his failed push to repeal Obamacare, Trump couldn’t do it.

Trump began with a painfully obvious reminder — legislation is a result of a collaborative effort between the two chambers of Congress.

“In the House, I must tell you, they’ve been working really hard, and they’re coming ...

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