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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 2 august 2017
GOP shows signs of reaching out to Democrats on health care

Continued from front on stabilizing insurance
markets.
“It’s pretty obvious that our That would be a departure
problem with health care from the lack of hearings
was not the Democrats. when McConnell worked
We didn’t have 50 Repub- behind closed doors to
licans,” McConnell told re- craft various versions of
porters. the GOP’s health care bill,
The prospects for passing which were rejected by his
bipartisan health care leg- chamber.
islation remain uncertain, Alexander said he’s asked
with divisions between Trump to make the pay-
conservatives and moder- ments to insurers for August
ate Republicans persisting and September to give his
on several issues. In particu- panel time to write legisla-
lar, Trump, McConnell and tion. White House officials
some other Republicans have said Trump will de-
have mocked the pay- cide this week on the Au-
ments Alexander wants to gust installment.
renew as a bailout for insur- Sen. Patty Murray of Wash-
ers. ington state, the health
Nonetheless, the day’s panel’s top Democrat,
comments collectively un- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., leads fellow Democratic Senators to meet embraced Alexander’s
derscored the distance supporters outside the Capitol in Washington. Top Senate Republicans think it’s time to leave their suggestions for extend-
derailed drive to scrap the Obama health care law behind them. And they’re tired of the White
Senate Republicans are House prodding them to keep voting until they succeed. ing the payments and for
keeping from White House (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) hearings.q
demands that they contin-
ue voting on repealing and Congressional Budget Of-
replacing President Barack fice to estimate the impact
Obama’s 2010 health care of GOP bills easing some
overhaul. Erasing that law of the party’s proposed
has been a top priority for Medicaid cuts, making it
Trump and most GOP con- easier for insurers to sell
gressional candidates, and bare-bones policies and
failing to do it as they con- giving states block grants
trol the White House and for health programs.
Congress has angered Alexander said the legisla-
many in the party. tion he envisions would be
Many top Republicans “small, bipartisan and bal-
have said it’s time for the anced.” He said it should
GOP to move from health include money to continue
care to other issues. the insurance payments
McConnell said “there’s in 2018 and give states
still an opportunity” for Re- more flexibility on the type
publicans to push health of coverage insurers must
care legislation through provide, he said.
the Senate. He said he was He said his panel would
waiting for the nonpartisan hold hearings next month

Senate confirms Christopher

Wray, Trump’s choice for FBI

By DONNA CASSATA its the FBI at a particularly
Associated Press challenging time given
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump’s ousting of Comey,
Senate on Tuesday over- who was admired within
whelmingly confirmed the bureau. “This is a tough
Christopher Wray to lead time to take this tough
the FBI, replacing James job,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar,
Comey, who was abruptly D-Minn., said during a rela-
fired by President Donald tively low-key Senate de-
Trump amid the investiga- bate of the nomination.
tion into Russian meddling “The previous FBI director,
in last year’s presidential as we know, was fired be-
election. The vote was 92-5 cause of the Russia inves-
for Wray, a former high- tigation. The former acting
ranking official in President attorney general was fired.
George W. Bush’s Justice And we’ve had a slew of
Department who oversaw other firings throughout the
investigations into corpo- government over the last
rate fraud. Wray, 50, inher- few months.” q