What's happening today in the political world:
House expected to vote on Trump's health care overhaul
-- Today, U.S. House leaders are expected to vote on the American Health Care Act, a bill to overhaul the Affordable Care Act commonly referred to as "Obamacare." If passed, the bill will be sent to the U.S. Senate.
Thursday's vote is expected to be a close one, coming down to a handful of House leaders. Republican lawmakers reportedly worked late into Wednesday to try and secure the bill's passage, but were unable to do so, CNN reported.
You were given many lies with #Obamacare! Go with our plan! Call your Rep & let them know you're behind #AHCA ?? https://t.co/xAX4GJiO8z pic.twitter.com/qp90G49e0j
— President Trump (@POTUS) March 23, 2017
President Trump tweeted out a call for constituents to urge lawmakers to repeal and replace the Obama-era health care law saying, "you were given many, many false stories. The fact is you were given many lies. Go with our plan. It's going to be terrific. You're going to be very, very happy."
Vice President Mike Pence seconded the call to action saying, "Obamacare has failed - and Obamacare must go."
Obamacare has failed – and Obamacare must go. Call your Rep. & let them know you're behind #AHCA —> https://t.co/X2xcsfV6pZ https://t.co/eANYx9XRj1
— Vice President Pence (@VP) March 23, 2017
As of Wednesday night, a Republican leader count by CNN showed Thursday's vote could fall short of the necessary votes needed to send the bill to the Senate. Read more.
House Intel Chair won't reveal sources behind new wiretapping claims
-- House Intelligence chairman Rep. Devin Nunes, who said Wednesday that Pres. Trump's personal communications may have been collected under "incidental collection," told reporters he would not reveal where he received his information from.
Nunes: "We have to keep our sources and methods here very, very quiet" https://t.co/bA1YGKTWnb
— Daniella Diaz (@DaniellaMicaela) March 23, 2017
When asked repeatedly about his sources, Nunes refused to discuss his source. Nunes did say he had not shown the Intelligence Committee the records of what he received.
Nunes' Democratic counterpart, Rep. Adam Schiff of California, said the wiretapping investigation has cast a "cloud" over efforts to investigate allegations of Russian ties to Pres. Trump's 2016 campaign. Read more.
Trump and Pence express condolences following London attack
-- President Trump and Vice President Pence expressed their condolences to their British counterparts, following the deadly attack near a UK Parliament building Wednesday that left four people dead.
I spoke with PM Theresa May of the United Kingdom to offer my condolences on today's terror attack in London....https://t.co/j1Cr3WMuU7 pic.twitter.com/2Jy51T7Kvi
— President Trump (@POTUS) March 22, 2017
Spoke to U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May today to offer condolences on the terrorist attack in London. She is strong and doing very well.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 23, 2017
Met with UK FS @BorisJohnson to express condolences on behalf of @POTUS. We remain in solidarity to defeat those who threaten us. pic.twitter.com/xT8Ow7gJ0w
— Vice President Pence (@VP) March 22, 2017
Four people were killed and another 20 were wounded in the attack outside a British government building. A police officer and the attacker were among the dead.
ISIS took credit for the attack Thursday morning, following the arrest of eight people in a series of raids around Britain.
Pres. Trump takes a moment to address Russia allegations
-- Pres. Trump quickly knocked back recent news regarding the Federal Bureau of Investigation's probe into Russian ties with his 2016 campaign.
Following a report that Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort worked for a Russian billionaire to benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin's interests, the U.S. president called the news "totally biased and fake."
Just watched the totally biased and fake news reports of the so-called Russia story on NBC and ABC. Such dishonesty!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 23, 2017
Wednesday, The Associated Press released a report that Manafort earned millions consulting for billionaire Oleg Deripaska, proposing a plan to "greatly benefit the Putin government" in multiple countries.
Manafort called the allegation "100 percent not true." Read more.
