President Donald Trump is close to rounding out his Cabinet as congressional leaders continue to debate a bill that would replace Obamacare.
What's happening in the political world:
Trump's morning tweet(s):
-- The president had this to say on Twitter Thursday morning:
Despite what you hear in the press, healthcare is coming along great. We are talking to many groups and it will end in a beautiful picture!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 9, 2017
Opposition to GOP's Obamacare replacement bill grows
-- The House Ways and Means Committee became the first committee to approve the repeal bill, but the Republican-backed plan has met resistance from various groups, including the American Medical Association and the AARP.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer said of the opposition: "We would love to have every group on board. This isn't about figuring out how many special interests in Washington we can get paid off. It's about making sure that patients get the best deal, that lowers prices and brings back cost."
McConnell does not believe Mexico will pay for border wall
-- In an interview with Politico, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) was fairly straightforward when asked if Mexico would be paying for President Trump's proposed border wall.
"Uh, no," said McConnell.
Trump has previously stated that Mexico would pick up the tab on the wall project, but Mexican leaders have been firm in their stance that their country would not.
Washington joins Hawaii in fight against revised travel ban
-- Washington state has joined Hawaii in asking a federal judge to put the president's revised travel ban on hold.
Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson said that despite the significant changes to the previous executive order, the new travel ban still suffers from legal flaws.
Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin said, "The executive order means that thousands of individuals across the United States and in Hawaii who have immediate family members living in the affected countries will now be unable to receive visits from those persons or to be reunited with them in the United States."
Trump signed the revised order earlier this week.
VP Pence deflects question on president's wiretapping accusations
-- In an exclusive interview between reporter John Kosich from 10News' Scripps sister station in Cleveland and Vice President Mike Pence, the vice president deflected a direct question regarding President Trump's recent allegations that former President Barack Obama wiretapped Trump Tower.
Pence: "Well what I can say is that the president and our administration are very confident that the congressional committees in the House and Senate that are examining issues surrounding the last election, the run-up to the last election, will do that in a thorough and equitable way. They'll look at those issues, they'll look at other issues that have been raised. But rest assured our focus is right where the American people are focused and that's on bringing more jobs here to Ohio, creating a better healthcare system built on consumer choice."
Trump, hotel sued for unfair competition
-- Two Washington, D.C., restaurateurs are suing President Donald Trump and the company that runs his hotel over what they say is unfair competition. Under constitutional immunity protections, Trump can't be sued over official acts in the Oval Office. But he can be named in lawsuits for personal actions or those involving his businesses.
