US Senate

Republican moderate Susan Collins undecided on final tax cut vote

House of Representatives, News, US Congress, US domestic policy, US news, US politics, US Senate, World news
  • Maine senator who helped sink healthcare repeal voted for Senate tax bill
  • Insists ‘4% cut in Medicare that could go into effect will not go into effect’

The Republican Susan Collins, whose support was crucial in passing the Senate tax reform bill earlier this month, said on Sunday she has not yet decided if she will back the final measure negotiated by House and Senate leaders.

The Maine moderate has laid out conditions for her support of a final “conference committee” version of the tax proposal. They include assurances that Medicare payments will not be cut and that Republicans will support two healthcare bills aimed at reducing premium costs.

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The Guardian view on elections in the US: cause for (cautious) celebration | Editorial

Democrats, Donald Trump, News, Republicans, Russia, US news, US politics, US Senate, World news
Sizable victories for the Democrats in a series of races offer cheer after a year of Donald Trump. But the party should not feel too reassured

It was the boost they needed. The jubilation of Democrats as they celebrated the results of Tuesday’s elections owed much to the despair of one year before, when they learned that Donald Trump was on his way to the White House, as well as to the extraordinary events since, which have amplified his unfitness for the presidency and the extent of Russia...

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Senators reach bipartisan deal to salvage Obamacare subsidies Trump eliminated

Donald Trump, News, US healthcare, US news, US politics, US Senate

Republican Lamar Alexander and Democrat Patty Murray reach deal to help insurance companies cover medical needs of low-income Americans

Senators have moved to salvage Obamacare following Donald Trump’s decision last week to scrap critical subsidies that underpin the health law.

Republican senator Lamar Alexander announced on Tuesday that he had reached a deal with Democrat Patty Murray to fund the federal payments – intended to help insurance companies cover the medical needs of low-income Americans – in exchange for allowing states more regulatory flexibility under the Affordable Care Act.

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McConnell and Trump put on show of unity as Bannon urges Republican ‘war’

Donald Trump, News, Republicans, Trump administration, US Congress, US news, US politics, US Senate, World news

Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell appeared side-by-side in the Rose Garden after lunch at the White House on Monday in a show of solidarity after the president’s former chief strategist called for the metaphorical assassination of the Senate majority leader.

Trump insisted he and McConnell are “closer than ever before”, despite publicly criticizing the Republican leader for the Senate’s failure to enact the president’s legislative agenda, including Republicans’ failure to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which Trump called a “disgrace”.

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Trump claims ‘Obamacare is dead’ despite failure to repeal legislation

Donald Trump, News, US domestic policy, US healthcare, US news, US Senate
  • ‘It’s gone. There is no such thing as Obamacare any more’
  • President slashed federal healthcare subsidies for lower-income Americans

Donald Trump on Monday absolved himself of responsibility for Republicans’ failure to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and predicted that voters will blame Democrats if the law crumbles under a sustained assault from his administration.

Related: McConnell and Trump meet for lunch after Bannon calls for Republican 'war'

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Trump responds to critics of healthcare order with claim ‘millions’ will benefit

Donald Trump, News, Republicans, Trump administration, US domestic policy, US healthcare, US news, US politics, US Senate, World news

The president tweeted Saturday that he’s ‘very proud’ of executive order, despite analysts, politicians and others saying millions of people would in fact suffer

Donald Trump on Saturday heralded his latest moves to undermine Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law, tweeting that “millions of people” would benefit from his executive order on access to cheaper insurance and his scrapping of federal subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Related: 'He is failing': Trump strikes out solo as friends worry and enemies circle

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Repealing and replacing Obamacare ‘off the table’, says Chuck Schumer

Democrats, Donald Trump, News, Republicans, Trump administration, US Congress, US domestic policy, US healthcare, US news, US politics, US Senate, World news

Senate minority leader addresses Affordable Care Act after tweet from Trump saying the two discussed measure and possibility of ‘great’ new bill

Repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is “off the table”, Chuck Schumer said on Saturday, after Donald Trump tweeted that he had spoken to the Senate minority leader to see if Democrats were interested in helping pass “great” healthcare legislation.

Related: The Trump-Russia dossier: why its findings grow more significant by the day

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Trump says he is willing to work with Democrats on healthcare reform

Democrats, Donald Trump, News, Republicans, Trump administration, US Congress, US domestic policy, US healthcare, US news, US politics, US Senate

President says he expects a vote on healthcare next year and says he may issue a ‘major’ executive order to allow the purchase of insurance across state lines

Donald Trump said on Wednesday he was open to working with Democrats on healthcare, following the collapse of yet another Republican plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

Trump claimed that the GOP could corral enough votes to pass the measure – a last-gasp effort to deliver on a central campaign promise of the last seven years – but not in time for this week’s deadline, after which 60 votes would be needed instead of 51.

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