Dec 9, 2019 - Politics & Policy

House to vote on drug prices this week

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Photo: Michael Brochstein/Echoes Wire/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

The House is set to vote this week on its drug-pricing bill, but the outlook for an ultimate deal continues to look not great.

Driving the news: House leaders may bring the bill to the floor without an amendment from Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a progressive stalwart.

  • That has prompted progressive Democrats to consider trying to block a vote on the bill, The Hill's Peter Alexander reported Friday.

Where it stands: The White House has already criticized Pelosi's bill, and pushback from the left obviously wouldn't help its chances.

  • The Senate's bill is really the one to watch, but it has much less support from leadership.
  • In short, a lot of frayed alliances — between Pelosi and the left, Pelosi and Trump, pharma critics and McConnell — would need to un-fray in order for anything to happen here. And the clock is running out.

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Axios
Updated 24 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 7 a.m. ET: 32,870,631 — Total deaths: 994,534 — Total recoveries: 22,749,163— Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 7 a.m. ET: 7,079,689 — Total deaths: 204,499 — Total recoveries: 2,750,459 — Total tests: 100,492,536 — Map.
  3. States: New York daily cases top 1,000 for first time since June — U.S. reports over 55,000 new coronavirus cases.
  4. Health: The long-term pain of the mental health pandemic — Fewer than 10% of Americans have coronavirus antibodies.
  5. Business: Millions start new businesses in time of coronavirus.
  6. Education: Summer college enrollment offers a glimpse of COVID-19's effect.
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Stef W. Kight, Sam Baker
34 mins ago - Politics & Policy

How the Supreme Court could decide the election

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

The Supreme Court isn't just one of the most pressing issues in the presidential race — the justices may also have to decide parts of the election itself.

Why it matters: Important election-related lawsuits are already making their way to the court. And close results in swing states, with disputes over absentee ballots, set up the potential for another Bush v. Gore scenario, election experts say.

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Axios
7 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Graham hopes his panel will approve Amy Coney Barrett by late October

Sen. Lindsey Graham during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Sept. 24, 2020 in Washington, DC. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Fox News Saturday he expects confirmation hearings on Judge Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to the Supreme Court to start Oct. 12 and for his panel to approve her by Oct. 26.

Why it matters: That would mean the final confirmation vote could take place on the Senate floor before the Nov. 3 presidential election.

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