First Read is your briefing from Meet the Press and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter. <\/p>\n
The long-awaited congressional runoff in Georgia takes place on Tuesday, and one way to look at the contest is as a referendum of sorts on the health-care debate, especially now with Senate Republicans working on their own bill. Democrat Jon Ossoff opposes the repeal-and-replace legislation the House passed last month, while Republican Karen Handel supports it. Heres an exchange from their debate earlier this month: <\/p>\n
Handel: The system we're under now under Obamacare is collapsing. And I know because my husband and I get our insurance on the exchange. The premiums are skyrocketing and we are seeing a complete collapse in choice of plans, as well as physicians. Steve and I have seen our monthly premium go up from about $350 a month to nearly $1,200 a month. Our deductible from $2,500 to $10,000. So the status quo is unacceptable <\/p>\n
Ossoff: I met a little boy about a month ago named Matt who came out to canvass with us, knock on some doors. He is 7 years old, and he was born with a heart condition -- a pre-existing condition. And he is able to get coverage right now because there are protections for children like that with pre-existing conditions. But Secretary Handel supports a bill that would gut the protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions <\/p>\n
Handel: My sister has a pre-existing condition; she was born without an esophagus, and for you to suggest that I would do anything that would negatively affect her is absolutely outrageous and unacceptable. The facts are, ladies and gentlemen, that the bill in the Senate right now it provides more protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions... <\/p>\n
Ossoff: When it comes to pre-existing conditions, I'm afraid you're mistaken. The bill that passed the House guts protections for pre-existing conditions for Georgians. <\/p>\n
According to the recent Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll of this race, more than 80% of likely voters said health care is an extremely important or very important issue regarding their vote, and just 1-in-4 voters said they approved of the House health-care plan. And remember, this is the race to fill the seat vacated by Republican Tom Price, who is now Trumps HHS secretary and thats another way health care is an issue in this contest. <\/p>\n
Given Rosensteins statement above, dont forget this reporting from MSNBCs Ari Melber: An FBI inquiry of the Comey firing makes it more likely Rosenstein could be a witness, and thus potentially meet the parameters for recusing himself from overseeing Mueller's investigation. Rosenstein told The Associated Press in an article published on June 3 that he would rescue himself if he were to become a subject of Muellers investigation. I've talked with Director Mueller about this, Rosenstein told the AP. Hes going to make the appropriate decisions, and if anything that I did winds up being relevant to his investigation then, as Director Mueller and I discussed, if theres a need from me to recuse I will. <\/p>\n
Yesterday, we noted that Trumps closing argument in the final days of the 2016 election was that Hillary Clinton presidency would result in endless investigations and scandals. Now? Well, Trump finds himself under investigation for possibly obstructing justice. And NBCs Alex Seitz-Wald writes that Trump took to Twitter on Thursday to lash out at Hillary Clinton. <\/p>\n
Tweet #1: Why is that Hillary Clintons family and Dems dealings with Russia are not looked at, but my non-dealings are? <\/p>\n
Tweet #2: Crooked H destroyed phones w\/ hammer, 'bleached' emails, & had husband meet w\/AG days before she was cleared- & they talk about obstruction? <\/p>\n
At 1:10 pm ET, President Trump gives remarks from Miami about his changes to Barack Obamas policies toward Cuba. In an overhaul of one of his predecessors signature legacies, President Donald Trump will redraw U.S. policy toward Cuba on Friday, tightening travel restrictions for Americans that had been loosened under President Barack Obama and banning U.S. business transactions with Cubas vast military conglomerate, the Miami Herald writes. Trumps changes are intended to sharply curtail cash flow to the Cuban government and pressure its communist leaders to let the islands fledgling private sector grow. Note, however, that Trumps change of policy isnt popular with Congress, including Republicans from outside of Florida. We have a bill to lift the travel ban completely, to have no restrictions at all. That has 55 co-sponsors, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) said on MTP Daily yesterday. If it came to a vote on the Senate floor, I'm convinced we would be between 65 and 70 votes in favor of that. <\/p>\n
NBCs Benjy Sarlin: Despite the stakes, some Democrats and activists opposed to the GOP plan say Republican efforts to hide the legislative process and a relentless tide of major news elsewhere have made it harder to draw attention to the issue. If youre a voter sitting at home looking at your newspapers front page, its possible to have no idea the 'Trumpcare' train is barreling down the tracks at you, Ben Wikler, Washington director of MoveOn, told NBC News in an interview. MoveOn and a variety of other grassroots groups are warning members that a bill is imminent and sounding the alarm with events, petitions and phone calls to senators. Democrats have been giving floor speeches, holding town halls, and tweeting all week about the expected legislation. But some are expressing frustration that their message is getting lost in the noise. <\/p>\n
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How Health Care Is Playing in Georgia's Special Election - NBCNews.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" First Read is your briefing from Meet the Press and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter. Continue reading