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Congress faces holiday crunch as health care fix collides with shrinking calendar

Congress faces holiday crunch as health care fix collides with shrinking calendar

Congress has been back after the week-plus Thanksgiving Day break. And days are slipping off the calendar as lawmakers struggle to assemble a plan to address health care or defray the cost of spiking premiums. The deadline is the end of the calendar year. But Fox is told that the insurance companies just need action by Jan. 15. Still, that doesn’t give Congress much time to act. And, depending on the metric, the House is only scheduled to meet for nine days for the rest of 2025.  The Senate is not as clear, but, unofficially, the Senate will only meet for nine more days as well. GOP WRESTLES WITH OBAMACARE FIX AS TRUMP LOOMS OVER SUBSIDY FIGHT The House is scheduled to be in Tuesday through Friday. Then Dec. 15 through Dec. 19. The Senate meets Monday. But it’s unclear if the Senate would meet Friday. The Senate also meets Dec. 15 through at least Dec. 18. But anything beyond that is a little sketchy. CONGRESS RACES AGAINST 3-WEEK DEADLINE TO TACKLE MASSIVE YEAR-END LEGISLATIVE AGENDA However, this is where things get interesting. The House originally was not scheduled to meet Dec. 19. But that date was added to the schedule a few weeks ago. Some would interpret that added date as “code” for the possibility that the House may need to be in town the weekend of Dec. 20 to Dec. 21, and perhaps beyond. There is a possibility that the House could add days to the calendar around that period because Christmas Day isn’t until that Thursday. DEMS PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS TO KEEP OBAMACARE SUBSIDIES FIGHT ALIVE AFTER VOTE TO REOPEN GOVERNMENT So, in theory, the House has a few extra days at its disposal to address issues before Dec.25. It would be a different matter if Christmas itself fell on say a Monday or Tuesday.  So let me fillet the meaning of this. House Republicans are aiming to release a health care plan in the coming days. But developing a coalition to support such a package — without bipartisan support and full-throated support from President Donald Trump — likely stymies any health care package. CONGRESS MELTS DOWN: MEMBERS UNLEASH PERSONAL ATTACKS AFTER WEEKS OF SHUTDOWN DRAMA Keep in mind, Republicans have talked about an alternative plan to Obamacare since 2009, but have never passed anything. So, it’s truly hard to believe they can pass anything in the next 26 days. The Senate is expected to take votes related to competing health care plans late next week. The GOP offering is still unclear. Senate Democrats just unveiled a three-year extension of the current Obamacare subsidies. Any bill needs 60 yeas. So expect the Democrats’ plan to die immediately. OBAMACARE STICKER SHOCK: THREE FACTORS PUSHING PREMIUMS TO RECORD HIGHS Frankly, it’s likely that the failure of both plans in the Senate makes everyone get serious. Often in the Senate, something must first fail until the sides get serious about a compromise and begin to hustle. That takes us back to the calendar. Thus, with the deadline of skyrocketing health care premiums, it’s possible that Congress races up to and/or through the holidays to pass some sort of a health care fix before the end of 2025.  That’s why that weekend and days between Dec. 20 and Dec. 23, which are not on the congressional calendar, could be prime targets for Congress to work to pass something. HOUSE GOP SPLITS OVER OBAMACARE FIX AS COSTS POISED TO SPIKE FOR MILLIONS That’s to say nothing of Congress returning after Christmas and trying to approve something before or around the New Year.  Both bodies are technically slated to return to session Jan. 5. And don’t forget, that the Senate passed its version of the original Obamacare plan just after dawn on Christmas Eve morning, 2009. BIPARTISAN DEAL ON OBAMACARE SUBSIDIES FADES AS REPUBLICANS PUSH HSA PLAN Also lurking in the background: spending bills to fund the government. Government funding expires at 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on January 30. Nine of the 12 annual spending bills for Fiscal Year 2026 remain unfinished. The House expects to tackle a few bills before the end of the year. But if Congress fails to address anything on health care before the end of January, the probability of another government shutdown increases exponentially. So, I bid you “tidings of comfort and joy.”

Republicans divided over whether to salvage Obamacare — or replace it — ahead of subsidy deadline

Republicans divided over whether to salvage Obamacare — or replace it — ahead of subsidy deadline

Republicans across the board harbor deep frustrations with the rising costs of the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. But while some lawmakers believe it’s time to scrap the system, others fear a wholesale change may do more harm than good.  Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., said she struggles to imagine what that change would have to look like. “I don’t know that you can completely remove it,” Hageman said. “We have to have stability and certainty in the market.”  SCALISE ANNOUNCES GOP HEALTHCARE OVERHAUL COMING IN ‘NEXT FEW WEEKS’ AMID BATTLE OVER EXPIRING SUBSIDIES Rep. Mike Kennedy, R-Utah, agrees with Hageman. “It’s not going away anytime soon. I think there are some parts of the Obamacare policies that are positive,” Kennedy said. “I don’t think people want to see [it] go away. But there are ways to reform this, and it’s not just sending more money to insurance companies.” On the other hand, lawmakers like Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., had a quick answer ready for whether Republicans should consider finding an alternative. “Well, yeah! Obamacare is a failure,” Fine said. “That much is very clear.”  “Borrowing money from your kids and grandkids to hide what something actually costs doesn’t lower costs. That’s just lying about what they are. I don’t think we have a choice because if we stay on the Obamacare path, we will bankrupt the country.”  Amid other healthcare-related questions, the GOP’s divisions over Obamacare come as Republicans consider whether to extend COVID-era emergency Obamacare subsidies or let the assistance expire at the end of the month. Republicans concerned about the country’s fiscal picture hope the elimination of the federal assistance will help bring the country closer to its pre-COVID spending levels. Democrats, by contrast, worry that letting the subsidies expire could leave 90% of the 24 million Obamacare enrollees with higher premiums overnight. REPUBLICAN PITCHES HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS ‘ON STEROIDS’ THAT AMERICANS COULD USE TO BUY INSURANCE — AND STEAK According to the Committee on a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan fiscal policy think tank, continuing the subsidies could cost upwards of $30 billion a year. As a part of those conversations, Republicans have explored how they can reform Obamacare to make it more affordable. To Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., the change can’t be marginal. “I would say we can’t be tinkering around the edges here. Like if we tinker, we’re really not gonna fix this problem,” Burlison said. In some ways, Burlison believes replacing Obamacare shouldn’t be the focus of the GOP. By creating a better alternative, he believes Republicans can encourage policyholders to walk away from Obamacare voluntarily. “I think we need to do a new option and introduce that. And honestly, I think that this option will be so great no one will want to be in Obamacare anymore,” Burlison said. SCHUMER UNVEILS DEMOCRATS’ OBAMACARE FIX PLAN, LIKELY DEAD IN THE WATER Other Republicans would like to explore more substantive reforms — perhaps even scrap the program — but are skeptical of large-scale change in the face of current political realities. “The question is, can you pass it? Sixty votes in the Senate. Not gonna happen. That’s just not realistic. So, let’s talk about things we can pass,” Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., said when asked about whether Republicans should be looking for an alternative. To advance most legislation, Senate Republicans need 60 votes. They hold just 53 seats in the chamber. Instead, McCormick believes Republicans can make changes that make the healthcare space more competitive to drive down costs — even if Obamacare remains in place.  “The reason that you have a competitive market in non-insured products such as LASIK eye surgery, which now is about the same as it was 40 years ago, 50 years ago. Why? Because it’s competitive. Even despite all the inflationary costs to everything else, it didn’t increase. Because we have better competition, because it’s not paid for by insurance,” McCormick said.  “When insurance gets involved, when government gets involved, it becomes more expensive by design,” McCormick said.

Japan accuses Chinese jets of directing fire-control radar at its aircraft

Japan accuses Chinese jets of directing fire-control radar at its aircraft

Japan’s defence minister condemns incidents as ‘dangerous’ and says that that Tokyo has lodged a ‘strong protest’ with Beijing. Japanese Minister of Defence Shinjiro Koizumi has accused Chinese fighter jets of directing their fire-control radar at Japanese aircraft during two separate incidents over international waters near the island of Okinawa. In a post on X early on Sunday, Koizumi said that Tokyo has lodged a “strong protest” about the two incidents and made “a stern demand for measures to prevent recurrence”. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list “The radar illumination… was a dangerous act that exceeded the range necessary for safe aircraft flight,” he added. There was no immediate comment from China. A fire-control radar lock is one of the most threatening acts a military aircraft can take, because it signals a potential attack, forcing the targeted aircraft to take evasive action. The encounters over the islands, which are close to disputed territory claimed by both Japan and China, are the most serious run-ins between the two militaries in years. They came as relations between the two countries sour over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi declaring in November that Tokyo could respond to Chinese military action against Taiwan if the moves also threatened Japan’s security. Democratically governed Taiwan is claimed by Beijing and lies just 110km (68.4 miles) from Japan’s westernmost Yonaguni Island. Japan hosts the biggest overseas concentration of United States military power, including warships, aircraft and troops, with a big chunk of that contingent, including thousands of US Marines, based in Okinawa. There was no immediate comment from the US on Japan’s claims about China’s radar use. Advertisement According to Koizumi, the Chinese J-15 jets involved in the two incidents on Saturday were launched from China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier, which was manoeuvring south of the Okinawan islands along with three missile destroyers. “It is extremely regrettable that such incidents have occurred,” Koizumi’s statement said. No damage or injuries were reported from Saturday’s incidents near Okinawa, Koizumi added in his post. The Reuters news agency, citing sources and intelligence reports, said that China deployed a large number of naval and coastguard ships across East Asian waters on Thursday. The boats at one point numbered more than 100, Reuters reported. Taiwan’s government described that build-up as posing a threat to the Asia Pacific region. Japan said it was monitoring Chinese activity closely. Taiwan’s coastguard said on Sunday that it was monitoring drills by three Chinese maritime safety ships on the western side of the Taiwan Strait’s median line, but said the situation in the waters surrounding Taiwan was currently “normal”. Chinese state media said the search-and-rescue drills were in the central waters of the Taiwan Strait, patrolling “high-traffic areas, and areas with frequent accidents”. Taiwan’s coastguard said China was using “misleading and false wording” about what it was doing, with the aim of harassing Taiwan and carrying out psychological warfare. China claims it alone exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction over the strait, a major trade route for about half of global container ships. The US and Taiwan say the strait is an international waterway. Adblock test (Why?)

Hong Kong votes in ‘patriots only’ polls amid anger over deadly fire

Hong Kong votes in ‘patriots only’ polls amid anger over deadly fire

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee urges the public to come out and vote amid expectations of a low turnout. Voters in Hong Kong are heading to the polls to elect new lawmakers under China’s “patriots only” rules, though government efforts to drive turnout have been overshadowed by anger over the city’s handling of a major deadly fire. Polls opened early on Sunday across the autonomous Chinese city to select 90 legislators, though only 20 of those seats are directly elected. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list The election is only the second time since the city overhauled the electoral system to ensure that only those deemed “patriots” can run for office. Political campaigning for the polls was abruptly paused in late November, after a blaze tore through the housing blocks of Wang Fuk Court in northern Hong Kong, killing at least 159 people. Al Jazeera’s Laura Westbrook, reporting from Hong Kong, said “there had been some questions” whether the voting should go ahead in light of the tragedy, believed to be the world’s deadliest residential building fire since 1980. “But Hong Kong’s chief executive, John Lee, said the vote should go ahead, as a way to maintain stability, and that he needed the newly elected legislature to help push through reforms as well as ensure the recovery and reconstruction efforts can move ahead quickly,” Westbrook said. Lee had earlier announced a judge-led “independent committee” to investigate the fire, which devastated seven apartment blocks that were undergoing renovations. He has also urged the people of Hong Kong to take part in the polls, saying their ballots represented reform and support to the fire victims. Advertisement On Sunday, a sombre-looking Lee was seen casting his vote in the city. Political campaigning was abruptly paused after a blaze tore through the housing blocks of Wang Fuk Court in northern Hong Kong in late November, killing at least 159 people, and triggering public anger over the handling of the tragedy [Philip Fong/AFP] As of this week, police have arrested 15 people from various construction companies on suspicion of manslaughter. Police also reportedly arrested at least three people for sedition for making public criticism of the government in the wake of the fire. Among those detained was 24-year-old student Miles Kwan, who handed out flyers calling for government accountability. Kwan was later reported to have been released. Earlier this week, a university in the city also shut operations of its student union after messages were posted on campus expressing condolences and urging justice for the victims of the fire. Legislative elections in Hong Kong used to entail boisterous clashes between pro-Beijing and pro-democracy camps, with the latter often winning about 60 percent of the popular vote. But in 2020, Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law after the city was roiled by huge and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests. The first contest held under the new rules later that year saw a record low turnout of less than 30 percent. Some pro-democracy lawmakers have been jailed, including as part of a subversion case that concluded last year, while others resigned or fled Hong Kong. Sunday’s race will once again be devoid of the two largest pro-democracy parties after the Civic Party disbanded in 2023 and the Democratic Party said it is winding down. Before the fire, authorities had blanketed much of the city in promotional material and extended the operating hours of polling stations. About a third of the outgoing cohort of lawmakers, including veterans such as Regina Ip and legislature president Andrew Leung, are not seeking another term. Adblock test (Why?)

Supporters of Venezuela’s Machado rally in cities around the world

Supporters of Venezuela’s Machado rally in cities around the world

Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado have rallied in countries around the world to celebrate her Nobel Peace Prize win ahead of Wednesday’s award ceremony Thousands of people marched through Madrid, Utrecht, Buenos Aires, Lima, Brisbane and other cities on Saturday in support of 58-year-old Machado, who won the Nobel award for her struggle to achieve a democratic transition in Venezuela. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list The crowd in Peru’s capital, Lima, carried portraits of Machado and demanded a “Free Venezuela”. With the country’s yellow, blue and red flag draped over their backs or emblazoned on their caps, demonstrators clutched posters that read, “The Nobel Prize is from Venezuela.” Veronica Duran, a 41-year-old Venezuelan who has lived in Lima for eight years, said Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize is celebrated because “it represents all Venezuelans, the fallen and the political prisoners in their fight to recover democracy”. Machado, who has been in hiding since August 2024, wants to use the attention gained by the award to highlight Venezuela ‘s democratic aspirations. Her organisation said it expected demonstrations in more than 80 cities around the world. In Colombia, a group of Venezuelans gathered in the capital, Bogota, wearing white T-shirts and carrying balloons as part of a religious ceremony in which supporters asked that the Nobel Peace Prize “be a symbol of hope” for the Venezuelan people. Meanwhile, in Argentina’s capital of Buenos Aires, some 500 people gathered on the steps of the law school at the country’s largest university, improvising a torchlit march with their mobile phones. Advertisement “We Venezuelans in the world have a smile today, because we celebrate the Nobel Prize of María Corina and of the entire Venezuelan diaspora, and of all the brave people within Venezuela who have sacrificed themselves… we have so many martyrs, heroes of the resistance,” said Nancy Hoyer, a 60-year-old supporter. The gatherings come at a critical point in the country’s protracted crisis as the administration of United States President Donald Trump builds up a massive military deployment in the Caribbean, threatening repeatedly to strike Venezuelan soil. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s has branded the US operation an effort to end his hold on power. The Trump administration has said it does not recognise Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, as Venezuela’s legitimate president. Maduro claimed a re-election victory last year in a national ballot that the US and other Western governments dismissed as a sham, and which independent observers said the opposition won overwhelmingly. Machado had won the opposition’s primary election and intended to run against Maduro, but the government barred her from running for office. Retired diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez, who had never run for office before, took her place. The lead-up to the July 28, 2024, election saw widespread repression, including disqualifications, arrests and human rights violations. It all increased after the country’s National Electoral Council, which is stacked with Maduro loyalists, declared him the winner despite credible evidence to the contrary. Gonzalez sought asylum in Spain last year after a Venezuelan court issued a warrant for his arrest. Meanwhile, Machado went into hiding and has not been seen in public since January 9, when she was briefly detained after joining supporters in what ended up being an underwhelming protest in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital. The following day, Maduro was sworn in for a third six-year term. “We are living through times where our composure, our conviction and our organisation are being tested,” Machado said in a video message shared on Tuesday on social media. “Times when our country needs even more dedication, because now, all these years of struggle, the dignity of the Venezuelan people, have been recognised with the Nobel Peace Prize.” Machado won the award on October 10 for keeping “the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness”. According to the head of the Nobel Institute, Machado has promised to go to Norway to pick up her prize on Wednesday. “I was in contact with Machado last night [Friday], and she confirms that she will be in Oslo for the ceremony,” Kristian Berg Harpviken told the AFP news agency. Advertisement “Given the security situation, we cannot say more about the date or how she will arrive,” he said. Adblock test (Why?)