House GOP Group Drafting Health Law Alternative

Also, Sen. Rand Paul takes aim at President Obama's nominee for surgeon general over the pick's political work, but the Senate may still hold a confirmation vote.

The Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire: House Republicans Start Drafting Alternative To Obamacare
A group of House Republicans will kick off an effort Wednesday afternoon to coalesce around a GOP alternative to the president’s health-care overhaul, lawmakers said. The “House Obamacare Accountability Project,” a group of about 30 Republicans who have been meeting since May, will start tackling how to winnow the bevy of GOP health-care bills into a Republican counterproposal to the Affordable Care Act, the 2010 health law (Peterson, 2/26). 

The Washington Post: Rand Paul Adds Hurdle For Surgeon General Confirmation
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Thursday signaled he would try to block President Obama’s pick for surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, because of the nominee’s political advocacy work. But new filibuster rules should allow the Senate to take a confirmation vote regardless (Hicks, 2/26). 

Fox News: Sen. Paul Tries To Block Obama's 'Political' Surgeon General Nominee
Sen. Rand Paul is trying to block the nomination of President Obama’s surgeon general nominee, Dr. Vivek Murthy, over what he calls “serious concerns” about Murthy’s leadership in a group that promotes Obamacare and gun control. Paul, R-Ky., told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in a letter that he objects to Murthy’s nomination because he questions Murthy’s ability to impartially serve as “America’s Doctor.” The letter marks an escalation in a simmering fight over the nominee, for a post that is typically not so controversial (2/26).

CBS News: Rand Paul Takes Aim At Obama's Surgeon General Nominee
For Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., attempting to block President Obama's nominees is becoming a signature move. His latest target is Dr. Vivek Murthy, who was nominated to be the next Surgeon General. But Paul, an ophthalmologist himself, says Murthy is too political and therefore unfit for the position. Paul says he is concerned that Murthy's non-clinical experience stems from his position as the co-founder of Doctors for America, an offshoot of a pro-Obama campaign group (Kaplan, 2/26).