Wednesday News: “Disastrous ACA Repeal Bill” “still very much in play”; Time for Dems to Embrace Single Payer?

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, June 28.

• The Misery of Mitch McConnell (“As he rushes a bad bill, he drags the Senate to new lows.” As Trump destroys the presidency, McConnell destroys the Senate.)
• The Health Care Hoax Has Been Exposed
• On Senate Health Bill, Trump Falters in the Closer’s Role
• Unafraid of Trump, GOP senators feel free to ‘go their own way’
• The Bill Lives (“GOP senators delay the health care vote, but Trumpcare is still very much in play.”)
• Why is the GOP so terrible at health care? So many reasons — but largely because they don’t understand political reality(“John Boehner saw all this coming — and despite this week’s debacle, Republicans will likely push on toward disaster”)
• Elizabeth Warren: It’s time for Democrats to run on single-payer health care (Agreed, it’s time to have some sort of hybrid system where the government provides a basic level of coverage to everyone – Medicare or Medicaid for all? – while individuals can buy additional/private coverage if they want to.)
• How Trump Can Get His Muslim Ban (“The administration can use the Supreme Court’s ruling to shield its decision-making from judicial review.”)
• Sarah Huckabee Sanders criticizes fake news — and then promotes a journalist accused of deception
• How Schumer kept Dems united on Obamacare (“The Senate Democratic leader worked closely with senators and activist groups to keep pressure on the GOP — and won at least a temporary victory as the repeal bill stalled.”)
• Inside the GOP’s surprise health care flop (“Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell shocked Washington by punting on a vote to repeal Obamacare, but he’s still searching for a way to revive the bill.”)
• A Bipartisan Health-Care Bill Could Save Republicans. Why Does It Scare Them? (“For McConnell to compromise with Democrats and patch up the system would be for him to surrender the anti-Obamacare crusade on which he embarked in 2009 and from which he has never wavered. He may simply have too much pride and anger invested in the fight to give it up now. But he and his party — especially colleagues in the House — are going to pay a dear price for his monomaniacal hatred of a now-popular law.”)
• The Entire Trump Agenda Is at a Tipping Point
• Behind closed doors, tensions in the GOP (“McConnell made it clear after the White House meeting with Trump, however, that he does not want to work with Democrats on healthcare legislation.” For anyone who actually believes Trump when he falsely claims Democrats don’t want to work with Republicans on a bill that improves the Affordable Care Act…)
• Senate Leader’s Reputation as a Top Tactician Takes a Hit (It ain’t over ’til it’s over…)
• What Comes Next After Senate GOP Delays Obamacare Repeal Vote
• As Trumpcare goes off the rails, Fox News focuses on Obama’s vacations (Fox “News” is a complete joke.)
• Paul Ryan dismisses CBO’s dire analysis, argues 22 million people just don’t want health care (Paul Ryan is either brain dead, evil or both.)
• The White House is now using James O’Keefe videos to attack the press (Trump is degrading the U.S. presidency to the point where it might never recover.)
• Ex-Trump Adviser’s Firm Paid Millions by Pro-Russia Party (“Paul Manafort disclosed that his consulting firm earned over $17 million from a pro-Russian party for work it had done in Ukraine before he was a member of the Trump campaign.”)
• Trump: not passing a health bill would be bad but also, in another sense, “okay” (Huh???)
• Which GOP Senators Might Resurrect The Health Care Bill?
• Democrats Don’t Think Trumpcare Is Dead (“There could still be a vote soon on Senate GOP legislation to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, Democrats warned on Tuesday.”)
• Sen. Mark Warner: ‘We Received Over 2,000 Pages’ of Docs From Treasury Dept as Part of Russia Probe
• Tim Kaine: Bipartisan solution needed on health care
• Rep. Don Beyer: Let’s change how we elect the House of Representatives (“The Fair Representation Act would encourage the reemergence of ‘bridge-builders.'”)
• Population loss in Virginia’s coalfields region projected to continue for decades
• Gillespie, Republican vying to be Va. governor, grilled on health care in BBQ visit (“His experience reflects the challenge for Republicans running in state contests in the Trump era.”)
• Schapiro: It won’t be your father’s Virginia – or your grandfather’s (“By 2040, Virginia is expected to become the 10th-largest state, leaping from 12th and overtaking Michigan and New Jersey. It will also change Virginia’s politics – dramatically.”)
• Stafford expected to lead region in growth over next two decades
• Democratic group endorses seven candidates under age 35 in Virginia delegate races (“Run for Something focuses on young Democrats with little political background.”)
• Editorial: Life preserver for our bay
• Virginia Marine Resources Commission approves Dominion’s James River transmission line project (Until Dominion pushes hard on energy efficiency, Virginia shouldn’t approve anything they ask for.)
• Editorial: New Virginia laws target bullying
• Virginia lags behind DC, Maryland on new safety report card
• Suspect in killing of Muslim teen had been accused of assaulting a woman a week earlier, report says (This guy needs to be in jail a looooong time.)
• Possible replacement of Richmond Coliseum seen as catalyst for broader opportunity to redevelop downtown Richmond
• Roanoke County supervisors nix own pay raise
• Joe Morrissey hit with $50 fine for improper sample ballots as state board looks to tighten oversight of political campaigns
• More near-perfect conditions through Wednesday