WASHINGTON — Advancing his anti-abortion agenda, President Donald Trump moved Thursday to protect health care workers who object to procedures like abortion on moral or religious grounds. Trump chose the National Day of Prayer to announce the new regulation. "Just today we finalized new protections of conscience rights for physicians,...
Poll: Medicare Buy-In More Appealing to GOP Voters
WASHINGTON — Americans are giving Democrats a clear edge on health care as the 2020 presidential race gears up, according to a new poll that also finds many Republicans backing one of their competitors' top ideas: a government insurance plan people can buy into. But support for the plan that...
Ohio Governor Signs Ban on Abortion After 1st Heartbeat
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A bill imposing one of the most stringent abortion restrictions in the nation was signed into law in Ohio on Thursday, banning abortions after a detectable heartbeat in a long-sought victory for abortion opponents that drew an immediate constitutional challenge. In signing the heartbeat bill, Republican Gov....
AP Fact Check: Trump Misleads on Health Care, Russia Probe
WASHINGTON — Rallying in Michigan, President Donald Trump bragged about a surging auto industry that isn't surging, a Republican rescue for health care that has yet to take shape, a "total" exoneration in the Russia investigation that was not offered. And Trump, as he routinely does, took credit for a...
Gov. Newsom: Is He Getting Things Done?
Judge’s Ruling on ‘Obamacare’ Poses New Problems for GOP
WASHINGTON — A federal judge's ruling that the Obama health law is unconstitutional has landed like a stink bomb among Republicans, who've seen the politics of health care flip as Americans increasingly value the overhaul's core parts, including protections for pre-existing medical conditions and Medicaid for more low-income people. While the decision...
Lara Becomes State Insurance Czar in History Making Election
SACRAMENTO — Democratic state Sen. Ricardo Lara has defeated Republican-turned-independent Steve Poizner to become the state's next insurance commissioner, according to new vote totals. Vote counts updated since Election Day made Lara the winner with nearly 4.9 million votes, or 51.6 percent. Lara Is First Openly Gay Statewide Officeholder Lara...
Landslide, Supermajorities, and Fat Budget Surplus: It’s Good to Be Gavin
The good news just keeps coming for California Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom. Not only did he win a resounding 60 percent-plus landslide, but he will be greeted by a two-thirds supermajority of fellow Democrats in both houses — more than sufficient to approve a tax increase. Not that he'll need it...
Vidak, Poythress Concede Races, Giving Dems Supermajorities
SACRAMENTO — Democrats have won two Republican-held California state Senate seats in the Central Valley, giving the party veto-proof supermajorities in both chambers of the Legislature. Vote totals updated since Election Day made winners Monday of Melissa Hurtado and Assemblywoman Anna Caballero. Caballero defeated Republican Rob Poythress to win the...
Latest: Newsom Elected, Gas Tax Repeal Trailing
Democrat Gavin Newsom has been elected governor of California, taking the helm of the state's strong resistance to Trump administration policies on health care, immigration and the environment. Newsom's victory Tuesday over Republican businessman John Cox means one harsh critic of President Donald Trump — current Gov. Jerry Brown —...