He Also Just Signed a Law Letting States Withhold Federal Funds From Planned Parenthood
Healthcare hold-up. Trump is threatening to cut subsidies that help nearly 7 million people afford health insurance. Trump told The Wall Street Journal this ploy could force Democrats to negotiate. Some attorneys say Trump’s statements open his administration up to a lawsuit under the “take care clause” which requires that presidents faithfully execute laws.
Not so neutral. Ajit Pai, the new head of the Federal Communications Commission, has said that the FCC needs to “fire up the weed wacker” and get rid of rules such as so-called “net neutrality” that, he says, are holding back innovation. But a trade group that represents companies such as Facebook and Google is asking Pai to preserve rules that guarantee an open internet in our country without favoritism for some internet traffic and degraded service for others.
Republican family values. Trump signed a law Thursday that will let states block Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers from getting federal funds for family planning. The money helped low-income women get prenatal care, cancer screenings and contraception. Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate last month.
Your tax dollars at work. The Air force dropped a massive bomb Thursday on suspected ISIS positions in Afghanistan. The 22-ton bomb, called the Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), cost about $16 million. After Thursday’s drop, the Air Force has 19 of them left.
