House votes to prevent shutdown — with 151 GOP 'no' votes

House votes to prevent shutdown — with 151 GOP 'no' votes-thehill: Congress sent President Obama legislation on Wednesday to prevent a government shutdown, following a 277-151 vote in the House that will keep federal agencies funded through Dec. 11.

Big pharma attacks Clinton’s plan to combat drug prices

Big pharma attacks Clinton’s plan to combat drug prices-thehill: The leading pharmaceutical lobbying group is lashing out against Hillary Clinton’s soon-to-be-released plan to combat rising drug prices. The head of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) released a statement Tuesday rebuking her proposals, which he warned would kill jobs, risk patient safety and halt investment in new cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and cancer.

Hillary Clinton Proposes Cap on Patients’ Drug Costs as Bernie Sanders Pushes His Plan

Hillary Clinton Proposes Cap on Patients’ Drug Costs as Bernie Sanders Pushes His Plan-newyorktimes: With voter fury rising over the high cost of prescription drugs, Hillary Rodham Clinton proposed capping out-of-pocket drug expenses at $250 a month on Tuesday while a rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, extolled his own plan and long record for pushing to lower drug costs.

F.D.A. Nominee Califf’s Ties to Drug Makers Worry Some

F.D.A. Nominee Califf’s Ties to Drug Makers Worry Some-newyorktimes: President Obama’s nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration could face scrutiny over his ties to the pharmaceutical industry. Robert M. Califf, who has consulted for seven drug companies and a device maker, was described by one expert as the “ultimate industry insider.”

With Boehner Squeezed, Pelosi, Reid, Obama Unified on Shutdown Strategy

With Boehner Squeezed, Pelosi, Reid, Obama Unified on Shutdown Strategy-rollcall: While Republicans are splintering into factions and debating the merits of another shutdown fight and yet another coup attempt against Speaker John A. Boehner, Democratic leaders put forward a united front Thursday after huddling with President Barack Obama for an hour and a half.

This time, Trump is grounded by barrage from his GOP rivals

This time, Trump is grounded by barrage from his GOP rivals-latimes: All summer long — including in last month's first presidential debate — Donald Trump has floated above the rest of the Republican presidential field, like a malevolent puppeteer pulling everyone else's strings. On Wednesday night, in an often bludgeoning debate at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, the New Yorker was forced earthward by a blast of criticism from most of the rest of the field.

Wary of shutdown, GOP leaders try to refocus

Wary of shutdown, GOP leaders try to refocus-washingtonpost: Republican congressional leaders, hoping to avert another government shutdown in two weeks, have embarked on a series of maneuvers in hopes of quelling the conservative anger in their party that is threatening to blow up plans to keep the government funded and functioning.

Rep. Loretta Sanchez gains ground on Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris in Senate race, poll shows

Rep. Loretta Sanchez gains ground on Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris in Senate race, poll shows-latimes: Attorney General Kamala Harris (D) "is holding her lead in the race to succeed" Sen. Barbara Boxer (D), "but strong support among Latinos has enabled" Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D) to establish herself as a serious rival, according to a new USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll." Harris leads Sanchez 26% to 17% in the all-party primary matchup, with two Republicans tied for third and "more than a third of voters still undecided." Sanchez carried Latinos 34% to 18% over Harris.

Democrats Prepare for the Unlikely in Senate Races

Democrats Prepare for the Unlikely in Senate Races-rollcall: Arizona, Arkansas and Missouri look like unlikely pickups for Democratic Senate candidates to win in 2016. But Democrats are preparing for the unlikely. You don’t need to look any further back than 2012, when despite a favorable GOP climate, mistakes by two favored Republican candidates kept Republicans from winning control of the Senate.

Republican Leaders’ Stressful September

Republican Leaders’ Stressful September-nationaljournal: Re­pub­lic­an Con­gres­sion­al lead­ers are fa­cing a stress­ful Septem­ber, burdened with a best-case out­come of main­tain­ing the status quo in gov­ern­ment fund­ing and a worst-case out­come of an­oth­er gov­ern­ment shut­down.

Reconciliation Could Leave Obamacare Insurance Expansion Alone

Reconciliation Could Leave Obamacare Insurance Expansion Alone-morningconsult: A September reconciliation bill being drafted by congressional Republicans would repeal a handful of Obamacare provisions, but it might leave the insurance expansion alone. The bill would repeal the individual and employer mandates, the Independent Payment Advisory Board, the so-called “Cadillac tax” and the medical-device tax.

Sanders to introduce bill targeting high drug prices

Sanders to introduce bill targeting high drug prices-thehill: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is introducing legislation aimed at fighting high prescription drug prices, as he attacks pharmaceutical companies for their “outrageous profits.”

Acting CMS Head Still Being Vetted After More Than a Year on the Job

Acting CMS Head Still Being Vetted After More Than a Year on the Job-morningconsult: Andy Slavitt’s confirmation is up in the air. The Senate Finance Committee has yet to announce a hearing for President Obama’s pick to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, even though Slavitt has served as the Acting Administrator for CMS since July 2014.

Rubio: GOP Needs 60 Votes to Repeal Obamacare

Rubio: GOP Needs 60 Votes to Repeal Obamacare-rollcall: Sen. Marco Rubio sounds rather bearish on repealing Obamacare anytime soon, even if he or another Republican becomes president. Outlining his economic and foreign policy visions at a town hall meeting in Londonderry, N.H., on Wednesday, the Floridian said upending the 2010 health care overhaul law would take the support of a filibuster-proof supermajority of 60 senators.

House GOP leaders desperate to avoid shutdown

House GOP leaders desperate to avoid shutdown-politico: An explosive confrontation brewing between the House Republican leadership and conservatives over Planned Parenthood is threatening to shut down the government for the second time in three years. And House GOP leaders have yet to settle on a strategy to avert it.

Republicans Spending Early to Boost Chances to Keep Senate

Republicans Spending Early to Boost Chances to Keep Senate-rollcall: As Republicans look to defend their newfound Senate majority in 2016, early television and digital spending has more than quadrupled from this same point last cycle, a CQ Roll Call analysis shows.

Rubiocare Would Upend Traditional Health Insurance

Rubiocare Would Upend Traditional Health Insurance-rollcall: Sen. Marco Rubio’s proposed health care alternative would dramatically alter the health insurance landscape in America — well beyond repealing Obamacare.

Scott Walker gets out front with Obamacare replacement plan

Scott Walker gets out front with Obamacare replacement plan-politico: The Republican presidential contenders all claim they want to repeal Obamacare, but later Tuesday, Scott Walker will become the first top-tier candidate to deliver a detailed blueprint on what would come next.

Ahead of Obamacare Repeal Rollout, Walker Stocks Up On Advisers Familiar With Capitol Hill

Ahead of Obamacare Repeal Rollout, Walker Stocks Up On Advisers Familiar With Capitol Hill-rollcall: As Republican presidential candidate Scott Walker sets out to unveil his proposal to replace Obamacare, he’s been staffing up from Capitol Hill.

Why Republicans Can't Stop Obama's Executive Actions on Day One

Why Republicans Can't Stop Obama's Executive Actions on Day One-nationaljournal: The 2016 GOP contenders have made some pretty ambitious and far-reaching plans for their first day in office. Rick Perry said he'd show up on Day One with "a bottle of White-Out … to get started on all those executive orders that Mr. Obama has put his name to." Ted Cruz cast the net wide, pledging to use part of his first day in office to "rescind every illegal and unconstitutional action taken by Barack Obama."