Barack Obama News
Read news, analysis, and commentary on Barack Obama, his administration’s legacy, and his continuing impact on national debates.
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- Opinion
There Is Time to Reverse Obama Census Proposal That Promotes Group Identity Politics
There are only 10 days left to comment on one of the most important early challenges in the young Trump administration: proposals to further balkanize America through the 2020 census. This poison pill was left behind by the Obama administration in its last few days in office. On Sept. 30, an interagency group proposed to…Mike Gonzalez -
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What’s in the New Obamacare Deal That Could Unite Conservatives, Centrists
Conservative and centrist Republicans in the House are working on a deal that some say could unite the two factions and attract enough votes to pass the stalled bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. But amid increased pressure from the White House to move forward with the plan to unravel the 2010 health care law,…Melissa Quinn -
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Health Care Talks Continue as Republicans Face Questions on Obamacare Repeal
With members of Congress home in their districts for the next two weeks, negotiations over a health care bill repealing and replacing Obamacare remain ongoing as Republicans continue working to gain consensus on a plan. After the House GOP’s health care bill was pulled from the floor last month, Republicans left Washington, D.C., with little…Melissa Quinn -
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We Hear You: The GOP, the Freedom Caucus, and Repealing Obamacare
Editor's note: Our news coverage and commentary on Republicans' efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare have been much on our audience's minds. It's topic No. 1 by a wide margin even as lawmakers went home on recess. Here's a sample of what you had to say in our mail.—Ken McIntyre Dear Daily Signal: Regarding the House Freedom…Ken McIntyre -
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Understanding High-Risk Pools as Part of Obamacare Replacement
As House Republicans try to negotiate an agreement on the design of Obamacare repeal and replace legislation, specific elements are often referenced using shorthand terminology. While understandable, this can result in confusion if the same (or similar) term is applied to different concepts. An example is the term “high-risk pool,” which has recently been used…Edmund Haislmaier -
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Republicans Revive Obamacare Repeal Talks With Change to Unite Conservatives, Centrists
Before heading home to their districts for a two-week recess, Republican leaders and conservatives are proposing changes to the GOP’s health care bill they say will bring lawmakers closer to dismantling Obamacare. Reps. Gary Palmer, R-Ala., and David Schweikert, R-Ariz., members of the House Freedom Caucus, introduced an amendment to the American Health Care Act…Melissa Quinn -
- Opinion
Despite Deceptive Headlines, Obamacare Remains as Unpopular as Ever
The Kaiser Family Foundation runs a monthly tracking poll on health care topics, including Obamacare, that provides those involved in the raging U.S. health care debate some helpful regular check-ins with public sentiment. The April edition has gotten some increased attention in light of the recent repeal attempts in the U.S. House of Representatives. CNBC…Elizabeth Fender -
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The Flimsy Statistical Models Obama Administration Used to Justify Environmental Agenda
President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued an “energy independence” executive order on energy and climate policy. One provision of this order pertains to the social cost of greenhouse gasses—in particular, the “social costs” of carbon, methane, and nitrous oxide. The previous administration had used these social costs to justify its extensive regulatory agenda across the…Kevin Dayaratna -
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Obama Tried to Make Nice With Rebellious Students. It Backfired Miserably.
Nationally, black junior high and high school students are suspended at a rate more than three times as often as their white peers, twice as often as their Latino peers, and more than 10 times as often as their Asian peers. According to former Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan, the “huge disparity is not…Walter E. Williams -
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House Republicans Renew Plans to Repeal Obamacare After Failed First Attempt
Just four days after House Speaker Paul Ryan declared Obamacare the “law of the land,” House Republicans say they’re moving forward with their plan to repeal and replace the health care law despite the divisions in their party on how to reform the health insurance market. Ryan and members of his leadership team reaffirmed their…Melissa Quinn -
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What House GOP Leadership Should Do Now on Obamacare Repeal
This afternoon, the House canceled a scheduled vote on the American Health Care Act—the House leadership bill to partially repeal Obamacare—once it became clear that there were not the votes for passage. While the bill contained a number of provisions that were good conservative policies, a major reason it fell short was that too many…Edmund Haislmaier -
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Lacking Enough Votes, Paul Ryan Pulls Obamacare Replacement Bill
House Speaker Paul Ryan abruptly withdrew the GOP’s bill to repeal and replace Obamacare Friday afternoon after it became clear Republicans didn’t have the votes to pass the plan. The news came just minutes before the lower chamber was expected to vote on the bill, called the American Health Care Act, and after Ryan, R-Wis.,…Melissa Quinn -
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Freedom Caucus Looks to Continue Negotiations After Vote on Obamacare Plan Delayed
Following the postponement of the vote on the House GOP’s Obamacare replacement plan, members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus are calling for additional negotiations with the White House and centrist Republicans. Members of the conservative group gathered for more than two hours following a White House meeting with President Donald Trump earlier Thursday to…Melissa Quinn -
- Opinion
New Analysis: Obamacare Regulations Drove Up Premium Costs by Up to 68%
Until recently, the House was scheduled to vote on the American Health Care Act, the GOP leadership’s proposal to repeal and replace parts of Obamacare. That vote has been called off. While the American Health Care Act would have repealed some Obamacare regulations, the bill does not go far enough. Obamacare caused premiums to rise…Drew Gonshorowski -
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Conservative House Freedom Caucus Could Block Obamacare Plan From Passing
With 25 of its members prepared to oppose the House GOP’s plan to repeal and replace Obamacare on Thursday, the House Freedom Caucus says it has the votes needed to block the bill from advancing out of the House. But Republican leaders in the lower chamber have entered into 11th hour negotiations with conservatives and…Melissa Quinn -
- Opinion
As Republicans Debate Health Bill, Let’s Remember Why Americans Want Obamacare Repeal
With Congress enmeshed in determining the “what” of Obamacare repeal—that is, what gets included in the Republican bill—pausing to revisit the “why” of Obamacare repeal offers important guidance for the path forward. While Obamacare has been politically polarizing from the beginning, the broader public opposition to the law is not driven mainly by partisan animus….Edmund Haislmaier -
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House Conservatives: Obamacare Repeal Bill Still Needs Major Changes
Members of the House Freedom Caucus said the leadership-backed Obamacare repeal legislation, which is slated to go to vote Thursday, is far from where it needs to be to gain their support and lacks the votes to pass the lower chamber. The powerful conservative group was joined by GOP Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Ted Cruz…Juliegrace Brufke -
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Nearly 200 State Lawmakers Are Pushing for Changes to GOP Obamacare Repeal Plan
As House Speaker Paul Ryan works to satisfy the concerns of conservative and more liberal Republicans opposed to the GOP’s Obamacare replacement plan, more than 180 state lawmakers are joining the chorus of voices with issues with the bill. The state legislators, who represent 25 states, sent a letter to Ryan and Senate Majority Leader…Melissa Quinn -
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Despite Support From Some Conservatives, Freedom Caucus Remains Opposed to Obamacare Plan
A group of conservative lawmakers came out in support of the House GOP’s Obamacare replacement plan Friday, but even with their backing, an influential bloc of conservatives remain opposed to the bill. President Donald Trump held a meeting Friday in the Oval Office with members of the Republican Study Committee to discuss the health care…Melissa Quinn -
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After Paul Ryan Admits Obamacare Plan Needs Changes, Conservatives Hope to Strike Deal Uniting Party
Conservatives in the House are proceeding with cautious optimism as they continue negotiating the bill that repeals and replaces Obamacare following an admission from House Speaker Paul Ryan that the legislation needs to undergo necessary “improvements and refinements.” The concession from Ryan comes just a week after the Wisconsin Republican told his fellow Republicans the…Melissa Quinn