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U.S. NEWS Friday 8 September 2017
Senate passes $15B disaster aid measure, debt limit increase

By ANDREW TAYLOR want to have “some parti-
Associated Press san fight in the middle of the
WASHINGTON (AP) — The response.” The aid money
Senate on Thursday over- comes as Harvey recovery
whelmingly backed a $15.3 efforts are draining federal
billion aid package for disaster aid coffers and
victims of Harvey, nearly Irma is taking aim at Flor-
doubling President Donald ida. It’s just the first install-
Trump’s emergency re- ment on a recovery and
quest, and adding a deal rebuilding package for the
between Trump and Dem- twin hurricanes that could
ocrats to increase Amer- eclipse the more than $110
ica’s borrowing authority billion cost to taxpayers of
and fund the government Hurricane Katrina.
into December. In a surprise move late
The 80-17 vote sends the Wednesday, Senate Major-
package to the House for ity Leader Mitch McCon-
a vote on Friday, though nell added $7.4 billion in re-
GOP conservatives are building funding to Trump’s
chafing at the inside-Wash- $7.9 billion request to deal
ington maneuvering and with the immediate emer-
painful debt limit vote. But gency in Texas and parts of
with emergency accounts Louisiana.
running out of money and “It will provide certainty and
Hurricane Irma barreling stability for first respond-
toward the East Coast, the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks at the Capitol in Washington. The Senate ers, state officials, and the
measure appears set to on Thursday overwhelmingly backed a $15.3 billion aid package for victims of Harvey, nearly many others involved in
easily pass. Trump will sign doubling President Donald Trump’s emergency request, and adding a deal between Trump and preparing for and recover-
it. The must-do legislation Democrats to increase America’s borrowing authority and fund the government into December. ing from these storms, with
would also provide money (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) critically needed emergen-
to government agencies with House Minority Lead- The need to raise the debt urged a longer extension to cy resources that will not be
through Dec. 8, eliminating er Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., limit to ease a looming cash spare Republicans multiple interrupted by the prospect
the threat of a government and Senate Democratic crunch that is worsening votes ahead of next year’s of a shutdown or default,”
shutdown when the new fis- Leader Chuck Schumer of because of unanticipated midterm elections. McConnell said Thursday.
cal year starts next month. New York, by backing a Harvey spending was a GOP leaders are fuming, “The recovery effort for a re-
Thursday’s vote came a short-term extension to the major headache for GOP but Ryan backed the idea cord-setting storm like Har-
day after Trump stunned debt limit increase and the leaders like House Speaker on Thursday, telling report- vey has strained resources
GOP leaders by siding spending bill. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who had ers that the president didn’t to the limit already.”q

Governors back bipartisan Senate bid to control health costs

By ALAN FRAM ited to extending the pay-
Associated Press ments to insurers and mak-
WASHINGTON (AP) — A ing it easier for states to get
group of Republican and exemptions to some of the
Democratic governors be- statute’s requirements.
came the latest voices “The more we try to do, the
Thursday to endorse a bi- less likely we are to suc-
partisan Senate drive to ceed” because of opposi-
control health insurance tion, Alexander said.
costs, in defiance of Presi- In testimony Thursday to
dent Donald Trump. the health committee,
Trump has threatened to three Republican and two
block federal subsidies to Democratic governors
insurers for lowering de- backed continuing those
ductibles and other out-of- payments. Most said they
pocket costs for millions of should be extended for at
lower-earning customers, least two years.
calling them bailouts for in- Alexander and the commit-
surance companies. Lead- tee’s top Democrat, Sen.
ers of the Senate Health, Patty Murray of Washington
Education, Labor and Pen- state, are aiming their work
sions Committee are trying Governors from left; Bill Haslam of Tennessee, Steve Bullock of Montana, Charlie Baker of at the individual insurance
Massachusetts, John Hickenlooper of Colorado and Gary Herbert of Utah are greeted by Senate
to quickly write legislation Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., market, where 18 million
that would continue those right, during a hearing to discuss ways to stabilize health insurance markets , on Capitol Hill in people who don’t get cov-
payments for a year or Washington, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017. erage at work or through
more. Analysts and the in- (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) government programs pur-
surance industry say halting isolate Trump on the issue. Barack Obama’s health Health panel chairman chase policies. Those mar-
the payments would spur But with partisan feelings law, the prospects for even Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., kets are expected to see
new premium increases. heightened by the failed a modest effort to shore up said in a brief interview it premium increases averag-
The support from the gov- Republican effort to dis- the Affordable Care Act was “a good bet” the nar- ing at least 25 percent next
ernors seemed to further mantle former President are uncertain. row measure would be lim- year.q