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Opinions on shutdown: Using Obamacare is a sham cause; GOP isn't crazy; what's the endgame?

House Republicans' irresponsible brinkmanship may finally lead to the government shutdown that some of its members have been coveting since they took control of that chamber in 2011. This time, though, the fight hasn't been a battle over spending on federal agencies. It's been a symbolic one over the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obamacare. And it's been a sham. The inconvenient truth for the GOP is that "defunding Obamacare," as the House tried to do, wouldn't stop most of the major provisions of the health care law, some of which have already gone into effect

2 Oct 2013

Comments on shutdown: Both parties are shirking their duties; this fight may hold off health law battle on debt ceiling

Yes, defaulting on the U.S. debt would be worse than shutting down the government. But both represent such recklessly, breathtakingly, wastefully irresponsible derelictions of leadership that the people who run this town ought to be ashamed of themselves if either comes to pass.

1 Oct 2013

States prepare for Medicaid coverage changes -- even those not expanding under Obamacare

States grapple with Medicaid expansion issues -- even in states like South Carolina that aren't using the health law's provision to expand coverage. In Texas, 1 million people may fall into a Medicaid "doughnut hole," and Ohio Gov. John Kasich waits to see how his push for expansion will affect his re-election chances.

1 Oct 2013

Battle over health law brings gov't to brink of shutdown

A stopgap bill to fund the government when the fiscal year ends Oct. 1 continues to be caught up in Republican efforts to defund, delay or derail the health law. Federal agencies have contingency plans in place.

1 Oct 2013

First Edition: September 30, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about the readiness of the health law's online marketplaces and other key provisions the day before their Oct. 1 launch date even as the looming government shutdown becomes more of a reality.

30 Sep 2013

Viewpoints: Gerson says no compromises make for 'bad politics;' Democrats are getting a pass; Manchin signals a break in Democratic ranks

We are seeing that an anti-compromise ideology can make for bad politics. In our system, Obamacare will not be overturned by one house of Congress. A tea-party shutdown strategy -; if implemented -; would make securing the other house and the presidency less likely for Republicans. And the political energy consumed by Cruz and crew has not been available to promote incremental limits on Obamacare that might have aided GOP political prospects (Michael Gerson, 9/26).

30 Sep 2013

Moderate coffee consumption unlikely to adversely affect cardiovascular health

Coffee is one of the most extensively researched components in the diet. New studies are regularly being added to the already large body of scientific research, which overall suggests that moderate habitual coffee consumption is not associated with detrimental effects on cardiovascular health.

28 Sep 2013

Opinions on Cruz: GOP fight obscures harms from sequester; dramatic stand reaffirms Republican resolve; fundraising bonanza for both parties

The budget crisis manufactured by Congressional Republicans will never succeed at halting health care reform, but it has already caused long-lasting harm. It will preserve the deeply damaging spending cuts, known as the sequester, that are costing jobs and hurting the lives of millions (9/25).

27 Sep 2013

GOP considers shutdown alternatives

Republicans are exploring a possible new strategy: shifting the fight over President Barack Obama's health-care law to a separate bill that would raise the nation's debt limit. Other media outlets report that the debt limit deadline is Oct. 17 -- about two weeks earlier than had been anticipated.

27 Sep 2013

First Edition: September 26, 2013

Today's headlines include details regarding the ongoing congressional battle over the future of the health law in the context of avoiding a government shutdown, as well as the developments on the ground as the Oct. 1 launch of the health law's insurance marketplace nears.

26 Sep 2013

Viewpoints: Health law premium rates reveal 'mostly good news' but renew critics arguments; 'Cruz-ing for a bruising;'

President Obama, President Clinton, and Senator Ted Cruz all spent a lot of time talking about Obamacare on Tuesday. But the real news came just as the day was ending, right at midnight, when the Department of Health and Human Services released data on insurance premiums available through the new Obamacare marketplaces. Several states had already released their data. With this report, HHS provided premium information for most of the rest. Overall, the numbers are pretty consistent with previous reports, albeit with some new and interesting wrinkles. It seems like mostly good news, though the law's critics would argue it vindicates some of their arguments, as well (Jonathan Cohn, 9/25).

26 Sep 2013

Obama, Clinton make joint pitch to uninsured Americans

White House officials said the rare, hour-long appearance by the two presidents was an attempt to focus attention on next week's opening of enrollment in health insurance exchanges, which are key to the health law's expansion of coverage.

26 Sep 2013

First Edition: September 25, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about projected health insurance premium costs on the health law's new online marketplaces, as well as news from Capitol Hill and a joint appearance by President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton to talk about the overhaul.

25 Sep 2013

Viewpoints: GOP's 'charge into the fixed bayonets;' Republican health plan is superior to Obama's; Congressional hypocrisy on its health policy

So House Republicans have passed and sent to the Senate a budget that includes no funding for the Affordable Care Act, setting up a political showdown that could result in a government shutdown. We wish the GOP luck, since we support the policy if not the strategy. But however this charge into the fixed bayonets turns out, we hope the folks who planned it will take responsibility for what happens now (9/23).

25 Sep 2013

Senate Republican rank-and-file poised to block Cruz' health law defunding strategy

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced he won't support the pledge made by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, to use parliamentary procedures as he tries to stop Democrats from stripping a provision cutting money from the health law.

25 Sep 2013

First Edition: September 24, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about Senate action on the effort to defund the health law as well as a scheduled appearance by former President Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama to kick off the roll out of a key part of the overhaul.

24 Sep 2013

Viewpoints: GOP opponents to health care listening 'only to their own choir,' Congress should turn down federal contribution for insurance

Yes, a majority doesn't like Obamacare. They're unsure about what it will do and worried that it might make their health care worse. But do they really want to defund the law, and risk the chaos of a government shutdown to do it? Probably not, most polls suggest. As one Republican pollster told me, though a majority of voters don't like Obamacare, they're not angry enough about it to risk a fiscal crisis that could hurt the economy. So why are Republican lawmakers hearing a different message? Because most of them represent districts so conservative that they are listening only to their own choir (Doyle McManus, 9/22).

24 Sep 2013

Budget battle flashpoints highlight spending, debt and health law issues

News outlets report on what could happen in the next eight days as congressional leaders and the White House posture around the looming government shutdown.

24 Sep 2013

First Edition: September 23, 2013

Kaiser Health News staff writer Mary Agnes Carey reports: "Nearly 50 million Americans are enrolled in Medicare, the federal health insurance program for the elderly and disabled. The 2010 health care law, known as the Affordable Care Act, will make some changes to the program.

23 Sep 2013

As defunding vote triggers GOP 'family feud,' strong personalities and tough talk take center stage

Conservatives in the House have pressured Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, to advance their goal of defunding the health law, and criticized Senate cosnervative colleagues for caving on the issue. There are also threats of filibuster and concerns about the impact this strategy could have on the Republican party.

21 Sep 2013

Tea News and Research

Opinions on shutdown: Using Obamacare is a sham cause; GOP isn't crazy; what's the endgame?

Comments on shutdown: Both parties are shirking their duties; this fight may hold off health law battle on debt ceiling

States prepare for Medicaid coverage changes -- even those not expanding under Obamacare

Battle over health law brings gov't to brink of shutdown

First Edition: September 30, 2013

Viewpoints: Gerson says no compromises make for 'bad politics;' Democrats are getting a pass; Manchin signals a break in Democratic ranks

Moderate coffee consumption unlikely to adversely affect cardiovascular health

Opinions on Cruz: GOP fight obscures harms from sequester; dramatic stand reaffirms Republican resolve; fundraising bonanza for both parties

GOP considers shutdown alternatives

First Edition: September 26, 2013

Viewpoints: Health law premium rates reveal 'mostly good news' but renew critics arguments; 'Cruz-ing for a bruising;'

Obama, Clinton make joint pitch to uninsured Americans

First Edition: September 25, 2013

Viewpoints: GOP's 'charge into the fixed bayonets;' Republican health plan is superior to Obama's; Congressional hypocrisy on its health policy

Senate Republican rank-and-file poised to block Cruz' health law defunding strategy

First Edition: September 24, 2013

Viewpoints: GOP opponents to health care listening 'only to their own choir,' Congress should turn down federal contribution for insurance

Budget battle flashpoints highlight spending, debt and health law issues

First Edition: September 23, 2013

As defunding vote triggers GOP 'family feud,' strong personalities and tough talk take center stage

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