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Republicans in Congress introduced the American Health Care Act on Monday, drawing disappointment and disgust from several factions in Washington. Touted as the replacement to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the bill is being panned by Democrats who argue it will result in fewer people covered and higher out-of-pocket costs. More of a concern for Republican leadership, fellow conservatives are also deriding the legislation. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) described the proposal as “Obamacare Lite.” Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) called it “Obamacare 2.0.” The highly influential…

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The House of Representatives advanced two bills on Wednesday that would expand presidential influence over the federal rulemaking process. One piece of legislation would subject independent agency draft regulations to White House review—through the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). Another would create a board, composed of presidential appointees, “to determine if a rule or set of rules should be repealed.” Both proposals advanced roughly along party lines through the Republican-controlled body. No less than a dozen members on both sides crossed the aisle…

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An Obama-era rule intended to protect waterways from run-off pollution was put on track for termination by the Trump administration on Tuesday, once again raising the specter that his administration is ridden by conflicts of interest. The “Waters of the United States” rule had long been a target of GOP politicos working at the behest of energy and agricultural interests that would be affected by the regulation. Its repeal was also heavily lobbied for by the golf course industry. The Trump Organization’s holdings include 12…

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President Trump’s Secretary of the Interior was confirmed on Wednesday by the Senate. Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) was approved by the upper chamber in a 68-31 vote, with 17 members of the Democratic Caucus backing his nomination. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) spoke out against Zinke’s selection before the vote, casting doubt on the Congressman’s prior pledges to oppose the sale of public lands. The Department of the Interior oversees, among other agencies, the country’s National Park Service. “You can’t be a Roosevelt Conservationist, when…

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Consumer lending fell dramatically in the two months following President Trump’s election, according to Federal Reserve data published late last week. Overall loans and leases in bank credit fell by 0.7 percent in December and by 0.9 percent in January. The Fed metric grew by 6.3 percent on an annualized rate last year, and it hasn’t contracted on a quarterly basis since 2011. The steep drop in the credit market indicator contrasts starkly with the recent rise in major banks’ stock prices, as the Financial…

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The first Trump administration budget proposal will leave Social Security and Medicare benefits untouched, but other major federal programs face deep cuts. When asked about reductions to the two major retirement programs, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin told Fox News on Sunday: “Don’t expect to see that as part of this budget.” The administration, however, will be aiming to push for significant reductions in other unspecified “social safety net programs,” according to a report published the same day by The New York Times.  Full details have…

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