Republicans’ Abortion Measures Are Deal Breakers For Democrats, Setting Up Spending Bill Battle
The government’s current funding expires on March 23, and Republicans are pushing provisions related to women's reproductive health that Democrats say they won't give in on. Meanwhile, one lawmaker wants to include a proposal to fight high drug prices in the final spending bill.
The Wall Street Journal:
Abortion Provisions Lead To Tensions Over Spending Bill
A push from the White House and congressional Republicans to add new antiabortion provisions into a sweeping spending bill has divided lawmakers as they work to reach a deal that will fund the government beyond mid-March. Republican lawmakers want to expand restrictions that already prevent federal funding from going to abortions, and they also want to fully cut federal funding to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, which has long been a target of conservatives. (Peterson and Armour, 3/8)
The Hill:
Key Republican: GOP Won't Add Protection For Planned Parenthood In Funding Bill
A key Republican on the health-care spending subcommittee said the GOP is rejecting Democratic attempts to add protections for Planned Parenthood funding in the government spending bill. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), the chairman of the Appropriations health subcommittee, said Thursday that Democrats are trying to add language grandfathering in family planning grants to Planned Parenthood, essentially preventing the Trump administration from discretion over the grants and the ability to cut off the funds. (Sullivan, 3/8)
The Hill:
GOP Lawmaker Meets With Ryan To Push For Drug Pricing Bill
Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.) says he met with Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) on Wednesday to push for the inclusion of a measure to fight high drug prices in a coming government funding bill. The bill, called the Creates Act, has support from members of both parties but has faced strong lobbying in opposition from the powerful pharmaceutical industry. (Sullivan, 3/8)
In other news from Capitol Hill —
The Hill:
Ellison Replaces Conyers On Dem Single-Payer Bill
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) has replaced former Rep. John Conyers Jr. as the main sponsor of the House Democrats’ single-payer health-care bill. Ellison on Wednesday received unanimous consent from the House to assume leadership of H.R. 676, the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act, which has the support of a majority of the House Democratic Caucus. (Weixel, 3/7)
