GOP unveils its repeal of Obamacare
WHITE HOUSE press secretary Sean Spicer said Monday that “there’s no question something happened” regarding President Trump’s explosive accusation that former President Barack Obama illegally wiretapped Trump Tower during the campaign — he’s just not sure what.
“There’s enough out there now that makes one wonder how some of this happened without the existence of surveillance,” Spicer told reporters during an off-camera session after being asked about his boss’ tweeted claims over the weekend.
“There’s no question something happened. The question is, is it surveillance, is it a wiretap, or whatever,” Spicer said.
He added that he was “almost 100% certain” Trump had not spoken with FBI Director James Comey about his wiretapping allegations, even though the agency boss, according to reports Sunday, asked Trump’s Justice Department to release a statement refuting the President’s baseless assertion.
Only hours earlier, another White House aide suggested Trump didn’t believe what Comey had said about the claims, anyway.
When asked on ABC’s “Good Morning America” whether Trump accepted Comey’s refutation of the President’s wiretapping accusations, Sarah Huckabee Sanders replied that he didn’t. WASHINGTON — House Republicans released their long-awaited plan to repeal and replace Obamacare on Monday, the first major step in an arduous and uncertain journey to overhauling the law.
The legislation would replace the federal subsidies that help lowincome people buy health care plans with tax credits, give out grants to help states design their own systems, and gradually eliminate the Medicaid expansion that has helped 11 million people get insurance for the first time. It would also cut funding to Planned Parenthood.
Only less wealthy Americans would get the tax credits under the new plan, a change from previous GOP drafts, while older Americans would get slightly larger tax breaks. Individuals who make $75,000 or more would get smaller credits, and those who make more than $215,000 wouldn’t get any help under the new plan.
“The American Health Care Act is a plan to drive down costs, encourage competition, and give every American access to quality, affordable health insurance,” House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said in a statement shortly after the bill was released. “Working together, this unified Republican government will deliver relief and peace of mind to the millions of Americans suffering under Obamacare.”
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said, “President Trump looks forward to working with both chambers of Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare.” Democrats attacked the bill. “This bill is a giveaway to the wealthy and insurance companies at the expense of American families,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).Meanwhile, a report emerged that Trump offered additional funding for Planned Parenthood if the agency agreed to stop providing abortions.
The New York Times reported the proposal was made informally — and was rejected outright by the women’s health care provider.
Planned Parenthood receives $500 million a year in federal funding — none of which pays for abortion services.
The Times reported the proposal was a sign of Ivanka Trump’s influence over her father’s presidency, though she does not have an official role in the administration.