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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and his top health official are praising the new House Republican health care legislation, as GOP leaders set out to sell the plan to rank-and-file lawmakers and the public. The new bill aims to replace one of former President Barack Obama's signature achievements with a system designed along conservative lines. Primarily affected would be some 20 million people who purchase their own private health plans directly from an insurer -- and the more than 70 million covered by Medicaid.
WASHINGTON (AP) — One Republican congressman says people who are concerned about losing government-subsidized insurance premiums under Republican changes to the health care law might decide instead to put aside money for their health care instead of "getting that new iPhone." Jason Chaffetz (CHAY'-fits) of Utah, speaking to CNN, offered that advice to consumers, as Republicans unveil a plan that puts more emphasis on health savings accounts. Some conservatives are denouncing the House GOP plan as "Obamacare Lite," and say it doesn't go far enough. But Kevin Brady, the Republican who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, calls it "Obamacare gone." His panel will start considering the measure tomorrow.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Although the White House is calling on Congress to investigate whether Barack Obama ordered wiretaps on Donald Trump's phones, as Trump claims, former government lawyers say Trump wouldn't need Congress to answer that question. Todd Hinnen headed the Justice Department's National Security Division during the Obama administration, and was a National Security Council staff member under George W. Bush. And he says, "The intelligence community works for the president" -- so if a president wanted to know if surveillance had taken place, "all he'd have to do is ask."
WASHINGTON (AP) — As senior members of Donald Trump's team face questions about their contact with the Russian government, Trump is claiming that Russia "ran over" President Barack Obama for years. In a tweet, he says Russia "got stronger and strong, picked-off Crimea and added missiles." And he describes the U.S. response as "weak."
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department says the Chinese firm ZTE Corp. has agreed to plead guilty and pay the United States $892 million for violating sanctions against Iran. The department said the company had illegally shipped sensitive U.S.-made equipment to Iran. According to legal documents, ZTE obtained the banned goods over a six-year period and shipped them to customers in Iran, knowing that the sales violated the sanctions. ZTE entered a guilty plea and also settled charges with the Commerce and Treasury departments.
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