Bureau of Land Management | Capitol Hill Blue

GOP tries a ‘skinny repeal’ of Obamacare

They couldn’t pass a repeal of “Obamacare,” or find the votes for a White House-backed replacement. So now Senate Republicans are lowering their sights and trying to unite behind a so-called “skinny repeal” that would merely undo just a few of the most unpopular elements of Barack Obama’s law. The “skinny bill” is an admittedly lowest-common-denominator approach, and it may not even have the votes to pass, either. But as Republicans search for how to keep their years-long effort to repeal and re ...

by DOUG THOMPSON - Opinion

An increasing number of Republicans I have known since my days as a political operative in Washington in the 1980s grumble in emails, texts and phone calls that “something has to be done ...

‘Fired by tweet:’ Transgender vets speak out

by JULIE WATSON

A former U.S. naval combat-tested officer said she feels angry that President Donald Trump is saying transgender veterans like her should be considered unfit to serve. Another transgender service member said he will not be kicked out without a fight. Transgender veterans and active-duty troops spoke ...

by ROBERT BURNS and CATHERINE LUCEY

President Donald Trump abruptly declared a ban Wednesday on transgender troops serving anywhere in the U.S. military, catching the Pentagon flat-footed and unable to explain what it called Trump’s “guidance.” His proclamation, on Twitter rather than any formal announcement, drew bipartisan denunciat ...