Sep 18, 2017

Arizona governor gives McCain cover on Graham-Cassidy bill

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey (left) and Arizona Sen. John McCain. Photos: AP

Governor Doug Ducey (R-AZ) released a statement via Twitter Monday announcing his support for Sens. Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy's Affordable Care Act repeal bill:

"Graham-Cassidy is the best path forward to repeal and replace Obamacare... Congress has 12 days to say 'yes' to Graham Cassidy. It's time for them to get the job done."
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was one of three senators to vote "no" on the last repeal bill. But earlier today, McCain said he'd back the Graham-Cassidy bill if Ducey signed off on it.

Why it matters: This bill would restructure the U.S. health care system even more dramatically than the repeal-and-replace bills that preceded it. If McCain gets on board, Republicans are likely just one vote shy of passing it. The focus now will fall on Sens. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul.

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Fadel Allassan

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Biden: George Floyd's last words are "a wake-up call for our nation"

Former Vice President Joe Biden meets with clergy members and community activists during a visit to Bethel AME Church in Wilmington, Del. on June 1, 2020. Photo: JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

Joe Biden will call George Floyd’s dying words “a wake-up call for our nation,” and criticize President Trump’s decision to unleash tear gas on peaceful protesters outside the White House, in a civil rights speech from Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Why it matters: Biden in the address will seek to draw a sharp contrast between himself and Trump, whose first remarks addressing nationwide unrest Monday highlighted law and order, extreme demonstrations of militarized “strength” and other blustery threats.

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Ben Geman

13 mins ago - Energy & Environment

The alarm over climate financial risk gets louder because of coronavirus

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

The COVID-19 pandemic underscores why market regulators, companies and investors should do a better job planning for climate risks to the financial system, a pair of reports finds.

Driving the news: The International Monetary Fund said projected increases in the frequency and severity of natural disasters are a potential threat that investors probably aren't weighing enough.

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Ina Fried

14 mins ago - Technology

Facebook's first major public worker walkout

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Disgruntled Facebook employees, upset for days over the company's decision not to take down what they saw as calls for violence from President Trump, made their grievances public on Monday, with reportedly hundreds of workers staging a virtual walkout.

Why it matters: Facebook staffers have pushed back against controversial management choices in the past, but they've never before made public their dissent en masse. The protest suggests that the company — already battered by privacy scandals and political tensions — could be beginning to lose at least some of its workforce's trust.

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