Trump ally Meadows says president wants to work with House Democrats to lower drug prices

Trump ally Meadows says president wants to work with House Democrats to lower drug prices-cnbc: Republican Rep. Mark Meadows says President Donald Trump told him in a call Monday night that he wants to work with House Democrats to lower high prescription drug costs in the U.S.

US FDA back in business after shutdown, but regulatory work has 'piled up'

US FDA back in business after shutdown, but regulatory work has 'piled up'-spglobal: After 35 days of having about half of its employees either fully or partially furloughed, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is back in business, though its leaders acknowledged the shutdown has put the agency behind in its regulatory work.

Pharma Stocks in Focus as Congress Kicks Off Drug Cost Hearings Tuesday

Pharma Stocks in Focus as Congress Kicks Off Drug Cost Hearings Tuesday-bloomberg: Watch pharmaceutical stocks on Tuesday as the new Congress kicks off its first hearings on drug pricing this year.

Congress looks to avert another shutdown

Congress looks to avert another shutdown-rollcall: CQ budget and appropriations reporters Kellie Mejdrich and Jennifer Shutt unpack what could happen in the next three weeks as lawmakers and the White House wrestle with how to prevent another government shutdown in three weeks.

For Trump, what next after sudden shutdown pause?

For Trump, what next after sudden shutdown pause?-rollcall: For President Donald Trump, now what?

What’s in a position? This is how caucuses show their strength

What’s in a position? This is how caucuses show their strength-rollcall: The New Democrat Coalition has amended its bylaws to make it easier for the group of centrist Democrats to take official positions on policy ideas or legislation — a tool used by congressional caucuses to show their strength as they try to line up support behind specific policy ideas or legislation.

Senators negotiate in hopes of ending shutdown as dueling plans fail

Senators negotiate in hopes of ending shutdown as dueling plans fail-washingtonpost: Senators on Thursday embarked on fresh behind-the-scenes negotiations to end the longest-ever government shutdown, and House Democrats struggled to finalize a new border security plan, after the failure of two competing Senate bills forced renewed efforts to find some other way out.

Drug-Pricing Policies Find New Momentum As ‘A 2020 Thing’

Drug-Pricing Policies Find New Momentum As ‘A 2020 Thing’-kaiserhealthnews: The next presidential primary contests are more than a year away. But presumed candidates are already trying to stake a claim to one of health care’s hot-button concerns: surging prescription drug prices.

Could the FDA keep working without more funding, if drug reviews are deemed essential to protecting lives?

Could the FDA keep working without more funding, if drug reviews are deemed essential to protecting lives?-stat: Two former Food and Drug Administration lawyers have a creative possibility for how the agency could continue to do some of its work if the shutdown drags on: argue that reviewing certain drugs is essential to protecting people’s lives.

Congress to pursue divergent paths to reopening government, but stalemate no closer to resolution

Congress to pursue divergent paths to reopening government, but stalemate no closer to resolution-washingtonpost: Congress takes up legislation in coming days to reopen the federal government after a new offer from President Trump, but divergent efforts in the House and Senate look destined to go nowhere, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal workers facing a second missed paycheck at week’s end with the impasse no closer to resolution.

Sen. Kamala Harris of California vaults into 2020 presidential campaign

Sen. Kamala Harris of California vaults into 2020 presidential campaign-sfchronicle: Sen. Kamala Harris entered the 2020 presidential campaign Monday, describing herself as a “fighter” who will stick up for average Americans.

Healthcare groups, hospitals tell president, Congress to end shutdown

Healthcare groups, hospitals tell president, Congress to end shutdown-modernhealthcare: Hundreds of groups including the major healthcare industry associations and hospitals sent letters Thursday to Congress and President Donald Trump urging an end to the partial government shutdown, citing health consequences from the lapsed funding.

FDA directs dwindling resources toward reviewing new drugs

FDA directs dwindling resources toward reviewing new drugs-washingtonpost: The Food and Drug Administration plans to furlough more people and suspend lower-priority tasks to preserve money for drug reviews, including for new treatments for depression, diabetes and several types of cancer.

HHS secretary, Senate Finance Republicans talk drug pricing

HHS secretary, Senate Finance Republicans talk drug pricing-thehill: Senate Finance Republicans met with Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Wednesday to discuss the administration's drug pricing proposals.

What’s not part of the shutdown? 2020 Senate campaigns

What’s not part of the shutdown? 2020 Senate campaigns-rollcall: Politics never sleeps, not even during a government shutdown. That is especially true of Senate campaigns, because the unique nature of that chamber and its election cycle means folks need to be on their toes.

Rep. Scott Peters Will Run for Re-Election to Congress in 2020

Rep. Scott Peters Will Run for Re-Election to Congress in 2020-scottpeters.com: In an email to friends and supporters this morning, Rep. Scott Peters announced that, after strongly considering a run for Mayor of San Diego, he has decided that Congress is the place he can do the most good for our city and our nation. In 2020, he will run for re-election to Congress.

First 2020 Senate race ratings are here

First 2020 Senate race ratings are here-rollcall: Ready or not, 2020 is here — at least politically.

Kirsten Gillibrand, New York Senator, Joins Democratic Race for President

Kirsten Gillibrand, New York Senator, Joins Democratic Race for President-nytimes: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, an outspoken advocate for women’s causes and electing more women to office, is herself entering the 2020 race for the White House, becoming the latest candidate to join what is expected to be a crowded Democratic primary to take on President Trump.

Sherrod Brown is going on tour to the first four early presidential states

Sherrod Brown is going on tour to the first four early presidential states-cleveland.com: Sen. Sherrod Brown will travel to Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, the latest move in a possible run for president in 2020.

House Democrats launch drug-pricing probe into a dozen major health-care companies

House Democrats launch drug-pricing probe into a dozen major health-care companies-cnbc: The House Oversight Committee is investigating the actions of a dozen pharmaceutical companies in raising prescription drug prices in the U.S., the panel announced Monday.

McConnell tightens grip with Senate GOP amid shutdown fallout

McConnell tightens grip with Senate GOP amid shutdown fallout-politico: A handful of Senate Republicans are expressing frustration with their party’s handling of the ongoing government shutdown. But Mitch McConnell is a long way from facing any sort of rebellion.

Both parties aim to woo defectors as shutdown drags on

Both parties aim to woo defectors as shutdown drags on-politico: The White House and Hill Democrats are each targeting defectors in the other party as they push dueling strategies to reopen the government — yet another sign that the 24-day shutdown is far from over.

Kirsten Gillibrand to announce presidential exploratory committee

Kirsten Gillibrand to announce presidential exploratory committee-cbs: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, is expected to announce her plans to form a presidential exploratory committee on Tuesday's "Late Show with Stephen Colbert," according to a person familiar with her planning.

House Democrats’ budget to assume corporate tax increase

House Democrats’ budget to assume corporate tax increase-rollcall: Rep. John Yarmuth, the new House Budget chairman, said his chamber’s budget blueprint will aim to claw back lost revenue by boosting the corporate tax rate from its current 21 percent to as high as 28 percent, with rate increases also possible for high-earning individuals.

Biden in 2020? Allies Say He Sees Himself as Democrats’ Best Hope

Biden in 2020? Allies Say He Sees Himself as Democrats’ Best Hope-nytimes: Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. is in the final stages of deciding whether to run for president and has told allies he is skeptical the other Democrats eyeing the White House can defeat President Trump, an assessment that foreshadows a clash between the veteran Washington insider and the more liberal and fresh-faced contenders for the party’s 2020 nomination.